HEALTH

Air Travel

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what occasions each Minister within his Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The available information is as follows:
	The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt)
	24 February 2014-London to Aberdeen and return flight.
	Former Minister of State (Mr Paul Burstow)
	3 January 2012-London to Newquay.
	Minister of State (Norman Lamb)
	25 February 2014-London to Newquay.
	26 February 2014-Newquay to London.
	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Dr Daniel Poulter)
	10 April 2014-London to Newquay.
	To provide information for other former Ministers since 2010 would incur disproportionate cost.

Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many apprentices have been employed by contractors and sub-contractors to his Department in each year since 2010-11; and what proportion of the total workforce of such contractors is made up by apprentices.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not held centrally.
	The Department’s central procurement system does not have categories to determine the number of apprentices employed by contractors and subcontractors within the Department and the proportion of the total Department’s work force of such contractors made up by apprentices since 2010-11.

Brain: Tumours

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, column 711, on brain tumours (children), what proportion of the £450 million which the Government has committed to enable earlier diagnosis of cancer has been allocated to reduce the delay of diagnosis of brain tumours in children.

Jane Ellison: None of the £450 million has been allocated to a specific cancer. A small part of the additional funding was held centrally for Be Clear on Cancer (BCOC) symptom awareness campaigns and for some work to help support general practitioners (GPs). The rest was allocated to the national health service to meet the additional costs associated with tackling late diagnosis of cancer, specifically to enable increased general practitioner (GP) access to four key diagnostic tests, including magnetic resonance imaging scans to support diagnosis of brain tumours and; the increased testing, and treatment costs in secondary care associated with more people being referred and diagnosed.
	In 2012, to increase the awareness of cancer among GPs and support GPs to assess patients more effectively, the Department funded the British Medical Journal Learning to provide an e-learning tool for GPs. Four modules were developed including diagnosing osteosarcoma and brain tumours in children and young people.
	This module helps GPs to understand the main types of brain tumours in children and young people, and their common presentations, and to recognise when patients need urgent referral.
	To date the Department and Public Health England (since April 2013), have run national BCOC campaigns to raise awareness of the following cancers-bowel, lung, bladder and kidney, and breast. Regional campaigns have also been run for ovarian and oesophago-gastric cancers. A campaign was piloted at local level to raise awareness of four key symptoms of cancer and a local skin cancer pilot is running from 16 June to 27 July in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Decisions on further BCOC campaign activity in 2014-15 are being made over the summer, based on the evidence and learning from previous campaigns. We will continue to keep these campaigns under review and work with relevant experts to see what might be done to tackle other cancers.

Brain: Tumours

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which neuro-oncology centres in the UK have the highest survival rates for patients with brain tumours.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has advised that this information is not held centrally.

Care Act 2014

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include forming and developing relationship in the eligibility criteria of the Care Act 2014 Part 1 regulations.

Norman Lamb: The Care Act 2014 will introduce a modern system that will promote and maintain the wellbeing of people who have care and support needs and support them in living independent lives. These enhance the areas of action set out in the 2010 Autism Strategy and reaffirmed recently in “Think Autism”.
	The Care Act includes a power to make regulations to set the national eligibility criteria for adult care and support. The national eligibility threshold will provide a similar level of access to care and support when we move from the current system to the reformed system in April 2015.
	The Department is currently consulting on the draft regulations and statutory guidance that will support the implementation of the Care Act. This includes the draft eligibility regulations which set the level of the threshold, and your comments will be considered when we finalise and publish the regulations in October. The public consultation started on 6 June and runs until 15 August 2014.

Care Homes: Disability

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effect on people with physical impairments and learning disabilities of the proposals by third sector providers to close residential care homes available to them.

Norman Lamb: The Department has not made an assessment of the effect on people with physical impairments and learning disabilities of the proposals by third sector providers to close residential care homes available to them.
	The Department is aware that some providers of residential care for disabled people are reviewing their services and consulting with people who use services and their families.
	The Department appreciates that some people who use services and their families may be concerned and encourages them to engage fully with the consultation process to ensure their views are taken into account.
	The Government believes that people who wish, and who are able to live in their communities should be given the support they need to do so. People who use services whose care is provided or arranged by their local council should be supported to exercise choice regarding where they receive services.
	The Care Act 2014, which will come into force in 2015, will give local authorities a core duty to promote their local market in care provision, with a particular focus on ensuring diversity, quality and sustainability which, importantly, will mean there should be sufficient high quality services available to meet the needs of individuals in their local area.

Care Homes: Disability

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the availability of a range of housing and care options for people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties.

Norman Lamb: The Department has not made any assessments of the availability of a range of housing and care options for people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties.
	The new Care Act, which will come into force in 2015, will give local authorities a core duty to promote their local market, with a particular focus on ensuring diversity, quality and sustainability which, importantly, will mean there should be sufficient high quality services available to meet the needs of individuals in their local area.
	The Department has worked with stakeholders, including provider organisations, to develop draft statutory guidance to support the implementation of the Care Act. The guidance will describe how local authorities must meet these new duties, including encouraging sustainability through appropriate fee levels. The draft guidance was published as part of a 10-week public consultation on the full package of regulations and guidance under part 1 of the Care Act on 6 June.
	The Government believes that people who wish and who are able to live in their communities, rather than in an institutional care setting, should be given the support they need to do so.

Care Homes: Disability

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the future of residential care for people with complex needs including physical impairments and learning difficulties; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: The Department has made no assessment of the future of residential care for people with complex needs.
	Local authorities are responsible for assessing the needs of their populations and for providing or arranging social care services, including residential care, to meet eligible needs.
	Local authorities have a responsibility, through good commissioning strategies, to ensure a healthy local care home sector. The new Care Act, which will come into force in 2015, will give local authorities a core duty to promote their local care market, with a particular focus on ensuring diversity, quality and sustainability. This will mean that there should be sufficient high quality services available to meet the needs of individuals in their areas.
	The Care Act provides a new legislative focus on personalisation, increasing opportunities for greater choice, control and independence, so that people can choose the services best suited to meet their care and support needs.

Dementia

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on non-pharmaceutical dementia treatments in each year since 2004.

Norman Lamb: The Department does not directly commission non-pharmaceutical treatments for people with dementia. Local national health service and social care commissioners should consider the needs of their local population when commissioning services for people with dementia.
	The Department is working to reduce the inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medication to people with dementia. In November 2013, the Department published an interactive online map to show members of the public data on the quality of dementia care and support in their local area, which can be used to hold local organisations to account. The data includes how often antipsychotic drugs are prescribed to people with dementia.

Dementia

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether childhood exposure to lead can lead to the early onset of dementia.

Norman Lamb: Lead is a known neurotoxicant and has been shown to affect cognitive function, especially following exposure during early life. However, the causes of dementia are multifactorial and it would be very difficult to investigate whether exposure to lead in childhood leads to early onset of dementia.

Diabetes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will re-establish the NHS Diabetes website. [R]

Jane Ellison: NHS Improving Quality has taken over the functions of NHS Diabetes and has no plans to establish a diabetes specific website. However, the archived NHS Diabetes website can still be viewed.
	NHS Improving Quality has a number of programmes of work under way to reduce premature mortality from diabetes and improve the care of people with diabetes including:
	piloting new pathways of care to detect and manage asymptomatic coronary heart disease in patient groups with diabetic foot disease. The aim is to reduce premature mortality in this group of patients by 600 lives per year from 2015-16;
	supporting the NHS Health Check programme's ambition to achieve a 66% uptake rate within the eligible population for 2014-15. A key component of these checks is looking for risk factors for diabetes;
	supporting the implementation of the Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy;
	working to achieve patient centred, co-ordinated services for people living with long-term conditions, including diabetes; and
	providing signposting and links to useful improvement resources relating to diabetes.
	More information on this work can be found on the NHS Improving Quality website at:
	www.nhsiq.nhs.uk

Diabetes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to include a diabetes-related indicator in the Health Premium Incentive scheme; if he will consult the diabetes community on the design of that scheme; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Jane Ellison: The independent advisory group, the Health Premium Incentive Advisory Group (HPIAG), was set up as a sub-group of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation to advise Ministers on which indicators from the Public Health Outcome Framework (PHOF) would be suitable for inclusion in the Health Premium Incentive Scheme (HPIS). HPIAG developed a list of technical criteria to guide this assessment and reviewed all the indicators in the PHOF, including those indicators relevant to diabetes, against these criteria. HPIAG concluded that the diabetes related indicators did not meet the criteria and so would not be appropriate for inclusion in the HPIS. HPIAG's report showing which indicator met the criteria has been placed in the Library and can be found at:
	www.gov.uk/government/groups/health-premium-incentive-advisory-group
	The PHOF itself was subject to a full public consultation and the report of PHOF consultation has been placed in the Library and can be found at:
	www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-health-outcomes-framework
	Ministers are currently considering options for introducing the scheme.

Diabetes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how the Care Quality Commission plans to use the findings from its thematic data review of diabetes care; [R]
	(2)  what progress the Care Quality Commission has made in its thematic data review of diabetes care; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(3)  when the Care Quality Commission plans to publish its thematic data review of diabetes care. [R]

Norman Lamb: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England and has a key responsibility in the overall assurance of safety and quality of health and adult social care services.
	The CQC has provided the following information.
	The CQC has completed its thematic data review of diabetes care. A summary report which includes findings of the CQC’s work and that of others has been shared with the Diabetes Thematic Review External Advisory Group that is supporting the project.
	The CQC’s plan is to publish the key national findings from this work as a short stand-alone report this summer.
	Results from the data review will be used to inform the CQC’s regular inspection regimes. The second phase will begin later in 2014 and will involve inspection activities and bespoke information gathering to follow up on the findings from the data review. It will also explore at the local level the causes behind variations in care and outcomes for different people.

Eating Disorders

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much the NHS has spent on specialist eating disorder clinics in each of the last five financial years;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the sufficiency and geographical distribution of NHS specialist eating disorder clinics.

Norman Lamb: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is shown in the following table and is from reference costs, which are the average cost to national health service trusts and NHS foundation trusts of providing defined services in a given financial year to NHS patients.
	
		
			 Estimated cost of specialist eating disorder clinics to NHS providers in England, 2011-12 and 2012-13 
			  Total cost (£ million) 
			 2008-09 52.6 
			 2009-10 61.3 
			 2010-11 69.2 
			 2011-12 41.4 
			 2012-13 59.8 
			 Notes: 1. Costs are reported for adult, and child and adolescent, eating disorder services. 2. Costs relate to activity occurring in admitted patient, out-patient and community settings. Source: Reference costs, Department of Health. 
		
	
	Specialist eating disorders units for both adults and children have been, since April 2013, commissioned by NHS England. Specialist eating disorder services for children are part of tier 4 child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
	On 10 July, NHS England published the findings of its recent report on tier 4 CAMHS. NHS England is currently working on a review of specialist commissioning. This will include both specialised children’s and adult mental health services.

EU External Trade: USA

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on the National Health Service.

Jane Ellison: The Government has no intention of opening up National Health Service services to further competition through the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), and this is not a focus of the negotiations. Our focus for health is to enable our world-class pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors to benefit from improved access to the United States market, increasing growth and employment in the United Kingdom.
	The UK has already undertaken long-standing agreements on trade, including in health services, since the 1995 General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATs). The UK’s objective in Fair Trade Agreement negotiations, including TTIP, is to maintain commitments in health services that are broadly in line with our existing obligations under GATS. These agreements have not impacted on our ability to provide public services to date and we do not consider that TTIP will change this. As is the case now, to work or operate here any overseas healthcare professionals or companies would have to comply with UK standards and regulations, in just the same way as UK healthcare providers do.
	We have made clear to the European (EU) Commission, who is negotiating the TTIP on behalf of member states, that it must always be for member states to decide for themselves whether or not to open up public services to competition, and this is the approach that the EU Commission is taking. The TTIP should not reduce the ability of member states to make future decisions about whether and to what extent to involve the private sector in the provision of public services.
	If investment provisions are included in the TTIP, they will strike an appropriate balance between protection for UK investors abroad, and ensuring that the Government is not prevented from acting in the public interest in areas such as public health and the NHS.
	The Government is committed to an NHS that is always there for everyone who needs it, funded from general taxation, free at the point of use. The TTIP could not change this.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of (a) foetal alcohol syndrome and (b) foetal alcohol syndrome disorders.

Jane Ellison: The Department has made no estimate of costs to the NHS for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), because estimates of prevalence for these conditions are so uncertain.
	The diagnosis for babies born with FAS may not be made easily at birth, and problems may present only later in childhood, for example at school. Estimates for the incidence of FASD are still more uncertain and relate to the lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria for these conditions.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: Figures taken from the Department's Business Management System categorised as spend on legal services from the Freedom of Information Team's central budget, show that £2,346.40 was spent in the 12 months between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014, and £22,627.71 in 2012-13. There was no spend in 2011-12, 2010-11 or 2009-10.

General Practitioners

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children who were not registered with a GP in each year since 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The requested information is not collected centrally.
	Babies born in England are issued with a national health service number at birth and their carers are given a General Medical Services (GMS)1 form to enable them to register their child with their local general practitioner.

General Practitioners: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent GPs were working in Warrington in each year since 2007-08.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 All practitioners (including retainers and registrars) 
			 Full-time equivalents 
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
			 England 33,731 34,043 36,085 35,243 35,319 35,871 36,294 
			 North West Strategic Health Authority 4,469 4,467 4,626 4,568 4,305 4,423 — 
			 Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT) 124 124 129 127 126 122 — 
		
	
	
		
			 Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral Area Team — — — — — — 709 
			 NHS Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) — — — — — — 97 
			 Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Notes: 1. Data as at 30 September each year. 2. In 2013 NHS Warrington CCG was made up of the same practices as Warrington PCT in 2012. Source: The Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to his answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, column 278W, on haemolytic uraemic syndrome, when the next meeting of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's evaluation committee will take place; and how soon after that meeting he expects to place a copy of NHS England's response in the Library.

Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has advised that the next meeting of its highly specialised technology evaluation committee will take place on 24 July 2014. If the committee agrees final draft recommendations on eculizumab for the treatment of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome, NICE will aim to make them available in September in line with its interim process guide. NHS England's response will form part of the documentation published and a copy will be placed in the Library at this time.

Health Professions: Travel

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance the NHS provides to NHS staff who have to (a) drive and (b) take public transport to work.

Daniel Poulter: The national health service does not usually provide financial assistance to NHS staff who have to drive or take public transport to work.
	The reimbursement of excess travelling costs when employees are required to change their base of work as a result of a reorganisation or merger of NHS employers or when employees accept another post as an alternative to redundancy will be for local determination between employers and staff representatives.
	NHS employers only reimburse travel costs if employees make journeys in the performance of their duties eg to provide care in a patient’s home.
	A number of trusts operate salary sacrifice schemes in respect of car parking, bikes for work, bus passes and car lease. Under a salary sacrifice scheme, an employee agrees to a contract variation to give up a proportion of their salary in exchange for a benefit.
	Some of the NHS organisations offer free shuttle services from train stations and between sites for patients, visitors and staff.

Health Services: International Cooperation

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria he uses when considering whether to invite his counterparts from the devolved Administrations to international health summits hosted by his Department.

Jane Ellison: Foreign affairs is a reserved matter. Nevertheless, the Department consults with the devolved Administrations in respect of international health summits hosted by the Department. Participation in such summits is considered on a case by case basis.

Health Services: Private Sector

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of funding from the NHS's budget which goes to private sector companies and which is spent on (a) health care and (b) shareholder dividend.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is not held centrally.
	All providers—whether from the national health service, voluntary or independent sector—need to reinvest surpluses in their services in order for them to be sustainable.
	The Government is clear that where NHS commissioners decide to use competition this must always be as a means to improve the quality of NHS services and achieve best value, as opposed to being driven by price alone.

Health: Screening

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to provide a separate follow-up service to the NHS Heath Check Programme; [R]
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to impose a duty on local authorities to commission follow-up services to the NHS Health Check. [R]

Jane Ellison: The Government has no plans to mandate local authorities to commission follow-up services following an NHS health check. It is for local authorities, supported by Public Health England, to work closely with their partners across the health care system, including through health and wellbeing boards, to ensure the different elements of the programme, including follow-up services link together. The Department, jointly with Public Health England, have issued guidance to support local authorities in delivering NHS health checks, including follow-up services. NHS England is also producing an action plan to improve patient management following an NHS health check by March 2015.

Healthcare UK: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent work Healthcare UK has done to encourage health care providers in Northern Ireland to work with their British counterparts on bidding for overseas projects.

Norman Lamb: Healthcare UK informs us that they have provided support to a Northern Irish digital health care company to progress contract negotiations with a Chinese partner. At the request of the company, two Healthcare UK officials travelled to Belfast to meet with the company directors in order to understand the project and the support required from Healthcare UK. A second trip occurred soon after, again at the request of the company, to offer United Kingdom Government support in the presence of the Chinese partners who were visiting Northern Ireland at the time. The Northern Irish company has expressed thanks for the support that they required from Healthcare UK in addition to what they have received from Invest Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland's Health Minister, Mr E. Poots. Healthcare UK has also provided advice to the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister on their overseas engagement.

Healthcare UK: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the chief executive of Healthcare UK has met with officials from the Northern Ireland Executive to promote his organisation’s work in Northern Ireland.

Norman Lamb: Healthcare UK informs us that Howard Lyons, managing director, met with a delegation from the Northern Ireland Executive at an event in Brazil in May 2013, including Arlene Foster MLA, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment in the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly.

Healthcare UK: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with his ministerial counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive on promoting in Northern Ireland the support and services offered to healthcare providers by Healthcare UK.

Norman Lamb: None. The Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has not held any discussions with his ministerial counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive on promoting in Northern Ireland the support and services offered to health care providers by Healthcare UK.

Hearing Aids

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of progress by the NHS in making available to patients new types of bone-anchored hearing aid.

Norman Lamb: NHS England commissions bone anchored hearing aids for patients with hearing loss as set out in its clinical commissioning policy,‘Bone Anchored Hearing Aids’, published in April 2013. This national commissioning policy ensures equity of access for patients in England, subject to them meeting the necessary criteria. The commissioning policy can be viewed on the NHS England website at the following link:
	www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/d09-p-a.pdf

Heart Diseases: Children

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that all children's heart surgery units should be subject to the same level of scrutiny.

Jane Ellison: Clinical audit is an important tool for driving up standards in the delivery of treatment and care. The National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research regularly provides clinical audit data to NHS England and the regulators which they use to monitor the outcomes at all children's cardiac centres. As part of the Congenital Heart Disease review, NHS England is currently reviewing the type of information that it analyses to monitor the outcomes of these services.

Hospitals

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-specialist trust acute hospitals were in financial deficit at the end of the 2013-14 financial year.

Daniel Poulter: At the 2013-14 financial year-end, there were 102 national health service trusts and 147 foundation trusts, each of which produced their own financial accounts. Of which, the Department recognise 62 non-specialist acute NHS trusts and 83 non-specialist foundation trusts, 145 organisations in total.
	Of these 145 organisations, the majority (i.e. 87) reported a financial surplus while 58 reported a financial deficit.
	NHS providers are required to deliver a break-even position. Where deficits occur they must be tackled in the right way. The NHS Trust Development Authority and Monitor, the independent regulator for foundation trusts, have a robust process for ensuring that trusts in deficit put a plan in place to recover their position, which in some instances will only be achieved in the medium-term.

Medical Records: Databases

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 280W, on medical records: databases, for what reason the Health and Social Care Information Centre did not seek or obtain section 251 of the NHS Redress Act 2006 support for the trial survey.

Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) can confirm that Section 251 approval for the use of contact details from the Medical Research Information Service Integrated Database and Administration System for the Trial stage was not needed. This is because Ipsos Mori was contracted to work as data processors on the HSCIC’s behalf and were in effect working as the HSCIC.
	As the main stage of the survey would be including additional elements (telephone and face to face follow ups) which had not been part of the ethical approval received by Ipsos Mori, advice was sought from the Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG) on these additional elements and this resulted in CAG suggesting that an s251 application be made for the main stage. This application was not approved, on the basis that the HSCIC had received approval in the meantime from the Department of Education, to use the National Pupil Database for the survey.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the approval of his Department's business case for the meningococcal B vaccine.

Jane Ellison: Senior officials in the Department and Her Majesty’s Treasury have discussed the business case for meningococcal B immunisation.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 494W, on mental health services: young people, when NHS England's review of Tier 4 Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services provision will be published.

Norman Lamb: The report of the review, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Tier 4 Report, was published on 10 July 2014 and a copy has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Innovation

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which Minister in his Department approved the transfer of commissioning responsibility for NHS Innovations hubs from the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement to strategic health authorities in 2009.

Daniel Poulter: It is a matter of public record that these issues fell within the portfolio of the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health (the right hon. the Lord Darzi of Denham KBE).

NHS: Innovation

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 566W, on NHS: innovation, what outputs and outcomes he uses to judge NHS England's compliance with its legal duty to promote innovation.

Daniel Poulter: The national health service's obligation to promote innovation is principally delivered through NHS England's innovation, health and wealth programme. NHS England reports progress on this programme to the Cabinet Office Implementation Unit, the innovation, health and wealth implementation board and the Department as part of its business plan.

NHS: Innovation

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 566W, on NHS: inovations, to whom in the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit the Innovation, Health and Wealth programme has been reporting during the last 12 months.

Daniel Poulter: In my answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 566W, I referred to the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit in error. My answer should have referred to the Cabinet Office Implementation Unit.
	NHS England has advised that it reports centrally to the Cabinet Office Implementation Unit and is not aware of the named individuals within the Unit who receive its monthly reports on the Innovation, Health and Wealth programme.

NHS: Innovation

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 566W, on NHS: innovation, if his Department will publish the sunset review of innovation and improvement bodies before the House rises for the summer recess;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 617W, on the NHS, if he will ensure that his Department's proposals arising from the Innovation, Health and Wealth review of NHS intellectual property that was completed in Autumn 2012 will be published before the summer recess.

Daniel Poulter: We currently have no plans to do so.

NHS: Innovation

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 566W, on NHS: innovation, when the Innovation, Health and Wealth Implementation Board has met during the last 12 months; what assessment he has made of progress on the Innovation, Health and Wealth programme; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Innovation, Health and Wealth Implementation Board met on:
	2 July 2013
	16 August 2013
	30 September 2013
	5 November 2013
	3 December 2013
	13 January 2014
	17 February 2014
	24 March 2014
	28 April 2014
	There were no meetings in May and June 2014 and the next meeting is scheduled for 8 September 2014.
	NHS England has been conducting a ‘refresh’ of the Innovation Health and Wealth programme to reflect on progress made, identify what more needs to be done and ensure that the programme continues to fit with the new health services landscape. We understand that NHS England plans to publish the outcomes from this process later in the year.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, columns 566-67W, on NHS: intellectual property, what returns have been made by Commissioners determining which providers have passed or failed the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation pre-qualification thresholds in 2012-13 and 2013-14 since April 2013.

Daniel Poulter: Local commissioners are responsible for assessing whether providers meet the pre-qualification criteria. NHS England has advised that the information requested is held by individual clinical commissioning groups and is not collected centrally.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, columns 566-7W, on NHS: intellectual property, whether the Innovation, Health and Wealth board will publish the review of NHS intellectual property before 23 July 2014.

Daniel Poulter: NHS England has advised that its review of NHS intellectual property has not yet been completed.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the future of intellectual property in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has received no representations on this matter through its ministerial correspondence unit during the period 1 January to 30 June 2014.
	We have received a number of questions on this subject from the hon. Member.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, columns 566-7W, on NHS: intellectual property, what the name and job title is of the official in NHS England responsible for the intellectual property strategy of the NHS; and what the name and job title is of that official's line-manager.

Daniel Poulter: Pursuant to my answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, columns 566-67W, I would like to clarify that overall policy for intellectual property rests with the Intellectual Property Office.
	Intellectual property as it affects health services rests with the Department of Health, within the portfolio of Will Cavendish in his capacity as Director General for Innovation, Growth, and Technology, working closely with other health service bodies, including NHS England, wherever relevant.

NHS: Intellectual Property

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, columns 566-7W, on NHS: intellectual property, what data has been collected by NHS England on the effectiveness of the existing NHS intellectual property strategy to inform its review.

Daniel Poulter: We understand that NHS England has not considered the effectiveness of an overall intellectual property strategy for the national health service. The work underway on the existing NHS intellectual property strategy as part of Innovation Health and Wealth is discrete and is looking solely at intellectual property from a commissioning and innovation perspective.

NHS: Management Consultants

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what fees have been paid to (a) Apposite Capital LLP, (b) The Orchard Down Consultancy Ltd, (c) Mike Farrar Consulting Ltd and (d) the NHS Confederation for their work on the NHS Accelerator Fund project;
	(2)  for what reason the NHS Accelerator Fund and the development project were not put out to public tender.

Daniel Poulter: We understand that the NHS Accelerator Fund is a NHS Confederation-led initiative and matters relating to its development and operation are for the NHS Confederation. The Department and NHS England have not been involved in the development of this fund.

Obesity

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on (a) Weight Watchers programmes, (b) Slimming World programmes and (c) any other branded weight loss programme in each of the last five financial years.

Jane Ellison: The Department and Public Health England do not hold the financial details on national health service expenditure on branded weight loss programmes. The determination as to what lifestyle weight management services are commissioned remains a local consideration.

Obesity

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of branded weight loss programmes in achieving healthy and sustainable weight loss;
	(2)  how his Department evaluates the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of branded weight loss programmes.

Jane Ellison: The Department and Public Health England (PHE) have not made a direct assessment of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of branded weight management programmes.
	The Department and PHE supports the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) public health guidance on ‘Managing overweight and obesity in adults—lifestyle weight management services’, which makes recommendations on the provision of effective multi-component lifestyle weight management services for adults who are overweight or obese. This includes the recommendations that the commissioning of such services is based on the effectiveness of the programme as outlined in the NICE guidance.

Obesity

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence was (a) received and (b) commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence prior to its recommendation to recommend the commissioning of branded weight loss programmes by NHS agencies.

Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published public health guidance on lifestyle weight management services in May 2014 which recommends the use of weight management programmes where certain criteria apply.
	Evidence considered by NICE is published alongside its guidance. Further information can be found at:
	www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/PH53

Obesity: Surgery

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much the NHS spent on bariatric surgery in each of the last five financial years;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the role bariatric surgery has in achieving healthy and sustainable weight loss;
	(3)  how his Department evaluates the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery.

Jane Ellison: Information about national health service spending on bariatric surgery is not available in the format requested. Information is available from reference costs, which are the average cost to NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts for providing defined services in a given financial year to NHS patients. Reference costs for acute care are collected by Healthcare Resource Groups (HRGs), which are standard groupings of clinically similar treatments that consume common levels of healthcare resource. The HRGs in the attached table are specific to bariatric surgery and were introduced in 2011-12. For previous years, costs data is not available because the costs of bariatric surgery were included in HRGs which also covered other stomach procedures.
	The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the potential benefits of bariatric surgery or evaluated its efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
	The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued “Guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children”. This includes recommendations on when to consider bariatric surgery for people who are obese. These recommendations were informed by an evidence review process, conducted by NICE, on the benefits and effectiveness of surgery. NICE is currently consulting on this guidance.
	
		
			 Estimated cost of bariatric surgery to NHS providers in England by HRG, 2011-12 and 2012-13 
			 Total cost (£ million) 
			 Code Healthcare Resource Group 2011-12 2012-13 
			 FZ84Z Stomach Bypass Procedures for Obesity 18.6 16.6 
			 FZ85Z Restrictive Stomach Procedures for Obesity 10.1 8.4 
			 FZ86Z Endoscopic Insertion of Gastric Balloon for Obesity 0.4 0.4 
		
	
	
		
			  Total estimated cost 29.1 25.3 
			 Note: Data includes the cost of procedures performed in day case, ordinary elective, non-elective and outpatient settings. Other costs outside of these settings are not included. Source: Reference costs, Department of Health

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 43W, on ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, what information the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) collects about the (a) identity of drugs used in treatment and (b) dosage used and the associated regimen for ovarian stimulation at each clinic; and what comparative assessment he has made of the collection of such data by the HFEA and by other countries that report data to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Jane Ellison: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it does not collect information on the identity of drugs used in treatment, the dosage used and the associated regimen for ovarian stimulation at each licensed centre. As a result, no comparison has been made with data collected by countries submitting information to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Pregnancy: Alcoholic Drinks

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of voluntary labelling to warn against drinking in pregnancy.

Jane Ellison: As part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, alcohol retailers and producers committed to putting an agreed warning or a pregnancy warning logo on 80% of labels on bottles and cans by the end of 2013. This level of coverage should allow the majority of consumers to see the pregnancy warning and logo.
	Campden BRI will shortly publish their independent report on the progress towards this goal.

School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has allocated to the School Fruit and Vegetable scheme for the 2015-16 school year.

Daniel Poulter: The Department allocates budgets including, for the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme on the basis of financial years (beginning in April) rather than academic years (beginning in September). The Department has not yet set its central budgets, which include the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, for the 2015-16 financial year which covers the first seven months of the 2015-16 academic year. The remaining five months of the 2015/16 academic year fall into the 2016-17 financial year which will be subject to the next spending review.

Self-Harm: Birmingham

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged under 18 have presented at accident and emergency departments in need of treatment for self-harm at hospitals in the Greater Birmingham area in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information on the number of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances for 0 to 17-year-olds, with a patient group of deliberate self harm and with a primary care trust (PCT) of treatment within Greater Birmingham in each of the last five years, is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 PCT of Treatment 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-141 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 74 95 59 60 68 
			 Dudley PCT 402 351 330 245 327 
			 Heart of Birmingham PCT 36 78 42 47 68 
			 South Birmingham PCT 94 97 101 100 114 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 157 117 138 179 164 
			 Wolverhampton PCT 0 147 255 211 228 
			 1 Provisional. Notes: 1. Self-harm: A&E Patient Group—a code that indicates the reason for the A&E episode. Group 30 indicates those attending because of intentional self-harm. There were no A&E attendances recorded with a patient group for deliberate self-harm for Wolverhampton PCT in 2009-10. Patient group is a non-mandatory field and nil entry may indicate that the PCT did not submit any data for patient group for this year. 2. PCT of main provider: This indicates the PCT area within which the organisation providing treatment was located. The following PCTs were identified as having an A&E department located within Greater Birmingham: 5PG—Birmingham East and North PCT 5PE—Dudley PCT 5MX—Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 5M1—South Birmingham PCT 5M3—Walsall Teaching PCT 5MV—Wolverhampton City PCT Data for Sandwell and Solihull PCTs is not included due to the PCTs not submitting A&E data to Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) for the time period covered. 3. PCT of treatment 2013-14 data: Although PCTs ceased to exist after 31 March 2013, HES A&E data for 2013-14 still contains data for PCT of treatment. The relationship between providers and their respective PCTs as at the end of 2012-13 has been propagated through to 2013-14 data to allow the relevant PCT to be reported, continuing a time series. 4. Provisional data: The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. 5. Accessing growth through time (A&E): HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in national health service practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. 6. Official Source of A&E data: HES is not the official source of total A&E activity, this is the NHS England situation reports collection: www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ However, HES permits further analysis of A&E activity as there are a range of data items by which HES can be analysed. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES),Health and Social care Information Centre (HSCIC)

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not keep a central record of its officials' previous employment, but is not aware of any senior civil servants appointed, since 2010, who were previously political appointees within the Department or employed by a political party.

Stafford Hospital

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many young people have been seen in the accident and emergency department at Stafford Hospital in each year since 2009-10.

Jane Ellison: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information on the number of unplanned accident and emergency (A&E) attendances for Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, where the patient was aged 0-17 years (inclusive) and did not “leave before assessment or treatment”, for each year since 2009-10, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Young people seen in A&E 
			 2009-10 9,369 
			 2010-11 9,416 
			 2011-12 9,536 
			 2012-13 8,605 
			 2013-141 9,007 
			 1 Provisional. Notes: 1. A&E Attendance: A count of the number of attendances at A&E. This does not represent the number of patients as an individual may attend on more than one occasion in any given period. 2. Hospital Provider: A provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health care provider (eg NHS trust or primary care trust). Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using this data as the counts may be lower than true figures. 3. Assessing growth through time (A&E): HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in national health service practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. 4. Provisional data 2013-14: The data is provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, ie November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. 5. Official source of A&E activity data: HES is not the official source of total A&E activity, this is the NHS England situation reports collection: http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae- waiting-times-and-activity/ However, HES permits further analysis of A&E activity as there are a range of data items by which HES can be analysed. NHS England situation reports do not collect data by age range. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).

Stafford Hospital

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many young people have attended the accident and emergency department at Stafford Hospital in each year since 2009-10.

Jane Ellison: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information on the number of unplanned accident and emergency (A&E) attendances for Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, where the patient was aged 0-17 years (inclusive), for each year since 2009-10, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Young people attending A&E 
			 2009-10 9,556 
			 2010-11 9,700 
			 2011-12 9,790 
			 2012-13 8,663 
			 2013-141 9,065 
			 1 Provisional. Notes: 1. A&E Attendance: A count of the number of attendances at A&E. This does not represent the number of patients as an individual may attend on more than one occasion in any given period. 2. Hospital Provider: A provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health care provider (eg NHS trust or primary care trust). Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using this data as the counts may be lower than true figures. 3. Assessing growth through time (A&E): HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in national health service practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. 4. Provisional data 2013-14: The data is provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, ie November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. 5. Official source of A&E activity data: HES is not the official source of total A&E activity, this is the NHS England situation reports collection: http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ However, HES permits further analysis of A&E activity as there are a range of data items by which HES can be analysed. NHS England situation reports do not collect data by age range. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC)

Stafford Hospital

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many total bed nights children and young people stayed overnight at Stafford Hospital in each of the years (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14.

Jane Ellison: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information on the number of bed days for patients aged between 0 and 17 (inclusive) treated at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust for each year in 2009-10 to 2013-14 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Count of bed days 
			 2009-10 9,092 
			 2010-11 9,457 
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12 8,121 
			 2012-13 9,214 
			 2013-14 (provisional) 8,074 
			 Notes: 1. Episode duration (Bed days): Episode duration is calculated as the difference in days between the episode start date and the episode end date, where both are given. Episode duration is based on finished consultant episodes and only applies to ordinary admissions, i.e. day cases are excluded (unless otherwise stated). 2. Hospital Provider: A provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health care provider (e.g. National Health Service trust or primary care trust). Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using this data as the counts may be lower than true figures. 3. Assessing growth through time (Admitted patient care): HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. 4. Provisional Data: The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Stafford Hospital

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children and young people were treated as inpatients at Stafford Hospital in each of the years (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14.

Jane Ellison: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information on numbers of finished admission episodes (FAEs) of patients aged between 0 and 17 (inclusive) that were treated at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust for each year in 2009-10 to 2013-14 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Count of FAEs 
			 2009-10 8,560 
			 2010-11 9,012 
			 2011-12 8,253 
			 2012-13 8,598 
		
	
	
		
			 2013-14 (Provisional) 8,213 
			 Notes: 1. FAEs: An FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. 2. This is a total of admissions and will therefore include those admitted as a day case. 3. Hospital Provider: A provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health care provider (eg national health service trust or primary care trust). Data from some independent sector providers, where the onus for arrangement of dataflows is on the commissioner, may be missing. Care must be taken when using this data as the counts may be lower than true figures. 4. Assessing growth through time (Admitted patient care): HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. 5. Provisional Data: The data is provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. his shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, ie November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Daniel Poulter: The Department provides a range of development courses for all staff via Civil Service Learning, the recognised supplier for all training. The options predominantly fall under the main categories of Core Skills, Leadership and Management, Working in the Civil Service and Talent, as well as a range of training across a number of professions eg statisticians, Human Resources etc.
	Full details of all training activities and exercises engaged in by staff are not held centrally. Some activities are arranged individually or locally. For us to contact each member of the Department's local business teams to obtain such information would entail contacting a large number of staff and asking them to search for and retrieve such data. Therefore, while the Department does hold some information relevant to the hon. Member’s request, extracting the totality of this data would require a significant amount of manual searching which would incur disproportionate costs.

Tuberculosis

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Collaborative TB Strategy for England will be jointly published and delivered by Public Health England and NHS England.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England and NHS England are working jointly to assess the responses to the consultation on the draft strategy and the impact of these proposals on the national health service. They will also be agreeing the arrangements for publication.

Ulipristal Acetate

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that drug retailers accurately describe the operations of their products; if he will require retailers of the drug Ulipristal acetate to detail accurately its abortifacient effects; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Ulipristal acetate is the active ingredient in the emergency contraceptive known as EllaOne.
	Following a High Court ruling in 2002, emergency contraception is defined as a method of contraception not abortion. The decision confirms the Government’s long held position that a pregnancy begins at implantation and not fertilisation. This judgment means that this position is now established in law and is not a matter of policy.
	EllaOne is a contraceptive, it is not an abortifacient. It exerts its contraceptive action by preventing or delaying ovulation.
	EllaOne is used to prevent pregnancy for up to five days after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure. It is specifically contraindicated for use during an existing or suspected pregnancy.
	The information provided in each pack of EllaOne clearly informs women and health care professionals that it should not be taken by a woman who knows or suspects she is pregnant.

Warrington Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mean and median waiting time for treatment in Warrington Hospital's accident and emergency department was in 2007-08 and in each year since.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 The mean and median duration (in minutes)1 to assessment,2 treatment3 and departure4 for Warrington And Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,5 by year for the years 2007-08 to 2012-136 
			  Number of attendances with a valid duration to assessment Mean duration to assessment** Median duration to assessment** 
			 2007-08* 21 369 270 
			 2008-09 13 348 1 
			 2009-10 10 36 0 
			 2010-11 20 21 11 
			 2011-12 100,084 60 31 
			 2012-13 101,531 52 32 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of attendances with a valid duration to treatment Mean duration to treatment Median duration to treatment 
			 2007-08* 90,502 65 51 
			 2008-09 91,556 73 60 
			 2009-10 94,146 74 60 
			 2010-11 98,054 82 68 
			 2011-12 100,088 81 68 
			 2012-13 101,531 75 62 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of attendances with a valid duration to departure Mean duration to departure Median duration to departure 
			 2007-08* 90,502 122 117 
			 2008-09 91,556 132 128 
			 2009-10 94,146 139 136 
			 2010-11 98,054 144 140 
			 2011-12 100,088 146 140 
			 2012-13 101,531 143 134 
			 * Prior to 2008-09, Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was known as North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, however the provider code remained as "RWW" and therefore the same code was used throughout the time series. ** Caution should be used when interpreting these figures which are based on a small number of records in the period 2007-08 to 2010-11. The total number of attendances with a valid duration to assessment was recorded on a very small number of records by Warrington And Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in this period. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre. 1Mean and median The mean (average) and median (middle in ranking when all values are sorted in order) duration in minutes to assessment, treatment or duration. 2Duration to assessment The total amount of time in minutes between the patients arrival and their initial assessment in the accident and emergency (A&E) department. This is calculated as the difference in time from arrival at A&E to the time when the patient is initially assessed. 3Duration to treatment The total amount of time in minutes between the patients arrival and the start of their treatment. This is calculated as the difference in time from arrival at A&E to the time when the patient began treatment. 4Duration to departure The total amount of time spent in minutes in the A&E department. This is calculated as the difference in time from arrival at A&E to the time when the patient is discharged from A&E care. This includes being admitted to hospital, died in the department, discharged with no follow up or discharged—referred to another specialist department. 5Hospital provider A provider code is a unique code that identifies an organisation acting as a health care provider (e.g. NHS trust or primary care trust). 6Assessing growth through time (A&E) HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Official source of A&E Activity Data: HES is not the official source of total A&E activity, this is the NHS England situation reports collection: http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ However, HES permits further analysis of A&E activity as there are a range of data items by which HES can be analysed.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Energy: Prices

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England and Wales are currently using third party deductions to help pay their energy bills; and what steps he is taking to ensure that customer energy prices fall in line with wholesale prices.

Michael Fallon: The information requested on third party deductions is shown in the table.
	In a competitive market, pricing decisions are a commercial matter for companies. Consumers can put pressure on companies to reduce prices by switching to the best deal for them-Ofgem’s Retail Market Reforms to deliver a simpler, clear market combined with Government’s push to significantly reduce switching times and require suppliers to share consumer data with trusted third parties, should make this easier to do.
	The Government supported Ofgem’s recent move to write to the largest suppliers, challenging them to explain to consumers the impact of falling wholesale prices on their retail prices. Evidence that large suppliers raise prices more quickly when costs increase than they reduce prices when costs fall was one of the issues underpinning Ofgem’s recent referral of the energy markets to the Competition and Markets Authority.
	
		
			 Number of claimants who currently have deductions under the third party deduction scheme for gas or electricity, by geography, as at November 2013 
			  Income support Jobseeker’s allowance Pension credit 
			 Ashfield constituency 100 - - 
			 Nottinghamshire 200 100 200 
			 England 16,800 3,100 12,300 
			 Wales 1,200 200 1,000 
			 '-’ Denotes nil or negligible. Notes: 1. Case loads have been rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However, the 5% sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources. The proportions derived have been scaled up to the overall 100% total for each benefit therefore the data has to be shown separately as shown in the table. 3. Figures below 500 are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide. 4. There is no data available in respect of deductions from employment and support allowance. 5. Some Income-based jobseeker’s allowance claimants may also have entitlement to benefit via the contributory route. Nottinghamshire data is the sum of the following local authorities: Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate, 5% Samples

Fracking: Lancashire

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the quantity of shale gas in the Bowland reserve that is located (a) above and (b) below a depth of one kilometre from the surface.

Michael Fallon: DECC has published a study estimating the gas resources of the Bowland shale accessible at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226874/BGS_DECC_BowlandShale GasReport_MAIN_REPORT.pdf
	This estimates gas resources at depths of 5,000 ft (approx. 1.5 km) and greater. The report does not consider it likely that any gas resource which might be found at shallower depths could be commercially viable to extract with current technology.
	No estimate has been made of shale gas reserves, that is, the proportion of the estimated resource that might be technically and economically producible.

Nuclear Power Stations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what security evaluation he has made of the proposed designs of the reactors and spent nuclear fuel for small modular reactor nuclear power plants.

Michael Fallon: The Government is in the early stages of its consideration of small modular reactors (SMRs) and is awaiting the outcome of a feasibility study, led by the National Nuclear Laboratory with the support of a consortium formed from industry. The study will make initial recommendations on the economic, technical and commercial case for SMRs, and will inform the evidence base for any further development or action.
	Should industry or any other body propose to deploy an SMR in the UK then the independent regulators will ensure compliance of the design with safety, security and environmental legislation.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what the capacity is of hydropower that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(2)  what the capacity is of medium and large-scale solar PV that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(3)  what the capacity is of renewable energy projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(4)  what the capacity is of offshore wind that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(5)  what the capacity is of onshore wind that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010.

Gregory Barker: The Department does not collect data on when renewable project commences generation or when they start construction.
	It does however collect data, through the Renewable Energy Planning Database
	https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
	on when renewable projects become fully operational. In terms of installed capacity, the figures for renewable energy projects that became fully operational are as follows:
	
		
			 Capacity (MW) 
			  Hydro Onshore wind Offshore wind Solar > 5 MW All renewables 
			 May to December 2010 3.45 475.493 300 0 833.5792 
			 2011 5.138 463.207 183.6 0 933.8319 
			 2012 11.3379 1317.841 1154.6 11.5 2718.4186 
			 2013 3.6391 1432.7145 974.1 346.525 4016.7711 
			 January to May 2014 6.52 78.545 0 577.99 848.949 
			 Total 30.085 3767.8005 2612.3 936.015 9351.5498

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what the capacity is of renewable energy projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(2)  what the capacity is of hydropower that started generation in May to December (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(3)  what the capacity is of medium and large-scale solar PV that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(4)  what the capacity is of offshore wind that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(5)  what the capacity is of onshore wind that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010.

Gregory Barker: The Department does not collect data on when renewable project commences generation.
	It does however collect data, through the Renewable Energy Planning Database:
	https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
	on when renewable projects become fully operational and when they were consented.
	In terms of the installed capacity, of those projects that became fully operational between May 2010 and May 2014, the figures are:
	(i) Consented before May 2010:
	
		
			 MW 
			  Hydro Onshore wind Offshore wind Solar > 5MW All renewables 
			 2010 (May to December) 3 475.063 300 0 832.6892 
			 2011 4.727 451.472 183.6 0 734.753 
			 2012 7.6899 1233.04 1154.6 0 2493.9229 
			 2013 0.334 780.0545 962.1 0 1759.0945 
			 2014 (January to May) 1.9 31 0 0 135.3 
			 Total 17.6509 2970.6295 2600.3 0 5955.7596 
		
	
	(ii) Consented after May 2010:
	
		
			 MW 
			  Hydro Onshore wind Offshore wind Solar > 5MW All renewables 
			 2010 (May to December) 0.45 0.43 0 0 0.89 
			 2011 0.411 11.735 0 0 199.0789 
			 2012 3.648 84.801 0 11.5 224.4957 
			 2013 3.3051 652.66 12 346.525 2257.6766 
			 2014 (January to May) 4.62 47.545 0 577.99 713.649 
			 Total 12.4341 797.171 12 936.015 3395.7902

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how many renewable energy projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(2)  how many onshore wind projects started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 and received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(3)  how many medium- and large-scale solar pv projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(4)  how many hydropower projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(5)  how many offshore wind projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 received planning consent (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010.

Gregory Barker: The Department does not collect data on when renewable project commences generation.
	It does however collect data, through the Renewable Energy Planning Database:
	https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
	on when renewable projects become fully operational and when they received planning consent.
	In terms of renewable sites, the number that became fully operational between May 2010 and May 2014, the figures are as follows:
	
		
			 (i) Consented before May 2010 
			 Sites 
			  Hydro Onshore wind Offshore wind Solar > 5 MW All renewables 
			 May to December 2010 2 33 1 0 57 
			 2011 7 42 1 0 69 
			 2012 6 38 4 0 61 
			 2013 2 40 3 0 51 
			 January to May 2014 1 4 0 0 8 
			 Total 18 157 9 0 246 
		
	
	
		
			 (ii) Consented after May 2010 
			 Sites 
			  Hydro Onshore wind Offshore wind Solar > 5 MW All renewables 
			 May to December 2010 1 2 0 0 4 
			 2011 7 19 0 0 97 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 8 48 0 2 143 
			 2013 11 97 1 41 281 
			 January to May 2014 2 17 0 47 91 
			 Total 29 183 1 90 616

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how many onshore wind projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(2)  how many renewable energy projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(3)  how many medium- and large-scale solar pv projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(4)  how many hydropower projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010;
	(5)  how many offshore wind projects that started generation in (a) May to December 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) January to June 2014 began construction (i) before May 2010 or (ii) after May 2010.

Gregory Barker: The Department does not collect data on when renewable project commences generation or when they start construction.
	It does however collect data, through the Renewable Energy Planning Database on when renewable projects become fully operational:
	https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
	In terms of developed sites, the figures for renewable energy projects that became fully operational are:
	
		
			  Hydro Onshore wind Offshore wind Solar > 5MW All renewables 
			 May to December 2010 3 35 1 0 61 
			 2011 14 61 1 0 166 
			 2012 14 86 4 2 204 
			 2013 13 137 4 41 332 
			 January to May 2014 3 21 0 47 99 
			 Total 47 340 10 90 862

Schools: Renewable Energy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to his Department’s solar strategy and initiative with the Department for Education to encourage the deployment of PV on schools, how many schools in England and Wales have installed solar panels to date; when he expects all schools in England and Wales to generate their own power from solar PV or other renewable sources; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Government does not maintain statistics on the number of schools deploying renewable energy. However, we would hope that schools will increasingly take up the opportunity to install solar PV and other renewables.
	One of the priorities set out in the UK Solar PV Strategy which I published earlier this year is to promote the deployment of solar PV on the roofs of Britain’s schools. This would reduce the energy costs of schools while providing opportunities to educate the next generation about the role of renewable energy in tackling dangerous climate change.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Air Travel

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what occasions each Minister within her Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, columns 724-5W, on official visits, what domestic visits each of the Ministers of her Department has made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.

Theresa Villiers: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of all ministerial overseas travel is published on a quarterly basis.
	I should add that on coming to office in May 2010, my predecessor ended the chartering of a private jet for routine travel between London and Belfast which had been the practice of previous Secretaries of State, including those in the last Labour Government. This has saved the taxpayer considerable sums of money.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Theresa Villiers: The Northern Ireland Office pays fees to the Treasury Solicitor’s Department for legal advice on a range of issues. The Department is unable to provide those fees which relate to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in her Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Theresa Villiers: None.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what professional development courses are made available to staff of her Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Theresa Villiers: Professional development courses are made available to staff when the business role requires this, for example, accountancy exams for finance staff. Any course attended by a member of staff must be business related and must be supported by a business case. Costs are agreed on a case by case basis.

Work Experience

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to her answer of 3 July 2014, Official Report, column 713W, on work experience, whether her Department follows Cabinet Office guidance on work experience placements.

Theresa Villiers: My Department follows the Ministry of Justice guidance on work experience placements, which is based on Cabinet Office guidance.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Arts Council has spent per head of population in Ashfield constituency in each of the last five years.

Edward Vaizey: Arts Council England (ACE) makes its funding decisions independently of Government and as such we do not hold the information requested. However, the following information has been provided by ACE:
	
		
			 Value of ACE awards to applicants resident in Ashfield constituency 2009-14 
			 £ 
			 Decision year Value of awards Per capita1 
			 2009-10 9,706 0.10 
			 2010-11 9,712 0.10 
			 2011-12 13,500 0.13 
			 2012-13 — — 
			 2013-14 — — 
			 1 Based on mid-2011 population estimate (ONS) 101,914. 
		
	
	In addition, ACE made two other awards totalling £3.8 million from which Ashfield can benefit.

Arts: North Yorkshire

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much arts funding (a) in total and (b) per head of population was allocated in (i) North Yorkshire and (ii) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency in each of the last five years.

Edward Vaizey: Decisions on arts funding are made independently of Government by Arts Council England (ACE) and local authorities and as such we do not hold the information requested. However, the following information has been provided by ACE.
	North Yorkshire—Five year investment figures (population based on mid-2012 estimate)
	
		
			 North Yorkshire (total population: 602,628) 
			 £ 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Grant in aid 1,503,276 1,515,037 1,393,744 1,700,587 2,129,340 
			 Lottery 1,254,106 916,871 649,212 1,211,114 919,252 
			 Total 2,757,382 2,431,908 2,042,956 2,911,701 3,048,592 
			       
			 Per capita 4.58 4.04 3.39 4.83 5.06 
		
	
	Local authorities constituting North Yorkshire: Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough, Selby.
	Please note that as a unitary authority, the City of York does not feature in the North Yorkshire figures.
	
		
			 Harrogate & Knaresborough (population: 101,832) 
			 £ 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Grant in aid 180,145.00 178,974 174,080 139,961 290,340 
			 Lottery 9,665.00 58,582 116,800 — 144,100 
			 Total 189,810 237,556 290,880 139,961 434,440 
			       
			 Per capita 1.86 2.33 2.86 1.37 4.27

Broadband: Brighton

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the number and proportion of businesses which have access to high-speed broadband in Brighton, Kemptown constituency.

Edward Vaizey: According to the data published by Ofcom in 2013
	http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/broadband/
	superfast broadband availability in Brighton and Hove stood at 95% of premises. A breakdown is not provided of the coverage split between residential and business premises.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Helen Grant: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

ICT

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many mobile telephones, BlackBerrys and laptops were lost by his Department in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

Helen Grant: The following items were either lost or stolen in the years in question:
	2013: four laptops and three BlackBerrys
	2014: three laptops.

Ministers: Official Cars

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many journeys Ministers of his Department have made using the Government Car Service; and how many such journeys were for the transportation of a red box.

Helen Grant: The Department has a contract with the Government Car Service for one ministerial car. Information on total number of journeys could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on travel where only a red box is carried is not held by the Department.

Mobile Phones: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether mobile data services will be expanded in Northern Ireland as part of the Mobile Infrastructure Project.

Edward Vaizey: Yes.

Mobile Phones: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of how many households in Northern Ireland will benefit from each phase of the Mobile Infrastructure Project; and what the current expected date of completion is for each phase of that project in Northern Ireland.

Edward Vaizey: DCMS officials and our delivery partner Arqiva are continually reviewing potential locations for masts with the intention of providing coverage to as many premises as possible. Various challenges will have an impact on the number of premises we can reach and completion dates for individual masts, such as finding a suitable and sensitive location for a mast, obtaining planning permission, and ensuring masts can connect back into the existing network.

Mobile Phones: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what level of funding has been allocated by his Department to projects in Northern Ireland under the Mobile Infrastructure Project.

Edward Vaizey: We are investing up to £150 million to provide coverage across the UK through the Mobile Infrastructure Project. Funding is not allocated by country or area. Funding is provided for potential sites on a case by case basis, with sites selected according to the number of homes and businesses for which signal could be provided balanced against the cost to build and run each individual site.

Portable Antiquities Scheme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his future funding plans are for the Portable Antiquities scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The Government recognises the important role that the Portable Antiquities Scheme plays in furthering our understanding of British history and archaeology. The resource allocations given to the British Museum up to 2015-16 include funding for its administration of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Future funding arrangements will be considered as part of the next spending review.

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Helen Grant: The Department does not ask this question or collect this information.

Tour de France

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate his Department has made of the financial benefit to (a) Essex and (b) the East of England arising from the launch of the Tour de France.

Helen Grant: The Tour De France Grand Depart was a resounding success and was extremely well supported in communities along all three stages, including the East of England and Essex. UK Sport is supporting the production of an economic impact report covering the main locations on the route and this will be made available later this year.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Helen Grant: DCMS has interpreted ‘Professional Development courses’ as formal training which relates directly to a professional specialism for which a qualification, specific training or membership is required.
	Along with other Government Departments, DCMS has access to a range of professional development courses that are made available to staff through the Civil Service Learning portal, a centrally run service. These include courses relating to professions such as Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Knowledge Management, policy and Project Delivery. Applications for professional development courses for DCMS staff are approved against the DCMS Learning and Development budget.

Treasure Act 1996

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the current timetable is for the review of the Treasure Act 1996; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The review of the Treasure Act 1996 (the Act) and Treasure Code of Practice will take the form of a public consultation. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is working with the British Museum and other stakeholders in preparation of this. DCMS will confirm the timetable for the review at consultation. Any new code of practice must be laid before Parliament and changes to the definition of treasure in the Act remain subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Government: Glasgow

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the £1.13 billion earmarked for the Glasgow area from the Growth Deal is dependent on the existence of shovel ready projects.

Greg Clark: Local leaders across Glasgow and the Clyde Valley have worked together to agree a series of infrastructure schemes that could be taken forward over the next twenty years as a result of the Glasgow Infrastructure Fund.

Local Government: Glasgow

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the statement of 7 July 2014, Official Report, columns 46-47, on local growth deals, when Glasgow will receive the first tranche of the £1.13 billion allocated to it.

Greg Clark: The first tranche of the UK Government’s £500 million funding would be received in 2015-16, subject to the agreement being signed by all parties during the weeks ahead.

Local Government: Glasgow

Ann McKechin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what agreement has been reached with the Scottish Government on the devolution of funding for skills and training to the relevant local authorities as part of the City Deal for Glasgow;
	(2)  what notification his Department has received from the Scottish Government on the devolution from them of further decision-making powers to local authorities in the Clyde Valley area to allow them to attract further investment as part of the City Deal for Glasgow;
	(3)  what agreement has been reached with the Scottish Government on the devolution of powers to allow the relevant local authorities to better regulate or procure bus services as part of the City Deal for Glasgow;
	(4)  what agreement has been reached with the Scottish Government on (a) support and (b) funding for the infrastructure plan to build a rail link between Glasgow and the airport as part of the City Deal for Glasgow.

Greg Clark: The UK Government and Glasgow city council are currently discussing with the Scottish Government how they will contribute to the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal.

Local Government: Glasgow

Ann McKechin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings Ministers or officials of his Department have had with Ministers of the Scottish Government to discuss the City Deal for Glasgow in the last 12 months.

Greg Clark: Ministers and officials from the UK Government are in regular dialogue with Ministers and officials from the Scottish Government on a range of issues including the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal.

Lord-Lieutenants

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Lord Lieutenants in England and Wales are (a) from an ethnic minority community, (b) women and (c) from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community; and what steps are being taken to increase the proportion of Lord Lieutenants who are representatives of such communities.

Greg Clark: There are 21 female Lord-Lieutenants in England and Wales, 38% of the total. The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for the appointment process of Lord-Lieutenants in England, does not keep records concerning Lord-Lieutenants' ethnicity or sexuality.
	The consultation process for the appointment of new Lord-Lieutenants seeks to encourage candidates from the widest possible base, representing all groups within society.

Northern Futures Board

Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of representation Warrington will have on the Northern Futures Board.

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of representation Liverpool will have on the Northern Futures Board.

Nicholas Clegg: The aim of our Northern Futures initiative is to facilitate a new kind of conversation about how we rebalance our economy. There are no plans to create a “Northern Futures Board”, but Liverpool and Warrington are strongly encouraged to join the Northern Futures conversation by submitting ideas via
	northernfutures@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

Written Questions: Government Responses

Simon Hart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to reply to the question tabled on 11 June 2014 by the hon. Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.

Greg Clark: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 9 July 2014, Official Report, column 295W.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

ICT

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Leader of the House how many mobile telephones, BlackBerrys and laptops were lost by his Office in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

Andrew Lansley: None.

Procurement

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Leader of the House how much and what proportion of his Office's budget was spent on activities which were contracted out in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14; and how much and what proportion of his Office's budget he expects to be contracted out in 2014-15.

Andrew Lansley: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. Our answer will be included in the response by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, shortly.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

ICT

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities how many mobile telephones, BlackBerrys and laptops were lost by the Government Equalities Office in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

Helen Grant: There has been one laptop loss in 2014.

PRIME MINISTER

Cemeteries

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what representations he has received about establishing a national cemetery; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will bring forward legislative proposals to establish a national cemetery; and if he will make a statement.

David Cameron: I have had no such representations. There are no plans to establish a national cemetery.

Disclosure of Information

Paul Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it policy that Ministers should (a) answer to Parliament on the contents of leaked Government documents and (b) not comment on documents leaked from organisations outside Government.

David Cameron: The Ministerial Code sets out Ministers’ lines of accountability to Parliament.

Jamaica

Diane Abbott: To ask the Prime Minister when he last met the Prime Minister of Jamaica; and when he next plans to meet her.

David Cameron: I last met Prime Minister Simpson Miller of Jamaica in July 2012 during HM the Queen’s reception to mark the opening of the Olympic games. I do not currently have plans for a future meeting. I met Caribbean Foreign Ministers at the UK-Caribbean Ministerial Forum hosted by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), on 16-17 June.

WALES

Air Travel

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what occasions each Minister within his Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

Stephen Crabb: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of all ministerial overseas travel is published on a quarterly basis.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made on the potential effect of universal credit on the education maintenance allowance in Wales.

Stephen Crabb: While the Department for Work and Pensions has discussed the treatment of education maintenance allowance (EMA) in assessing entitlement to universal credit with the Welsh Government, setting criteria for EMA eligibility is a matter for the Welsh Government.

ICT

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many mobile telephones, BlackBerrys and laptops were lost by his Department in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office had no reported losses of mobile telephones, BlackBerrys or laptops in 2013 or 2014.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office is committed to providing its staff with at least five days a year of learning and development, as set out in the Civil Service Capabilities Plan. Most professional development courses are supplied by Civil Service Learning (CSL). The cost of each course is dependent on a number of factors, including the type of training provided and the duration of the course.
	The Department spent £10,709 on training in 2013-14.

SCOTLAND

Air Travel

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what occasions each Minister within his Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

David Mundell: This information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Details of all ministerial overseas travel is published on a quarterly basis.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office spend on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2009-10 9,068.94 
			 2010-11 431.20 
			 2011-12 91.00 
			 2012-13 0 
			 2013-14 0

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly; all staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other public sector bodies. Since 2010, no senior civil servants have been appointed to the Scotland Office who were previously employed either as a political appointee or by a political party.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly; all staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other public sector bodies.
	All staff have access to a wide range of professional development courses through their parent employers learning and development teams, and through Civil Service Learning. The Scotland Office does not hold any information about the cost to the public purse of these courses. Further to this, other professional development opportunities may be available on the external marketplace. The cost to the public purse of such external training varies, dependant on provider, location and course content.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of links between Boko Haram and other Islamic extremist groups in Africa.

Mark Simmonds: We believe there have been links between Boko Haram and AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb). Boko Haram's off-shoot Ansaru is also believed to have had connections. However, we assess that Boko Haram's main motivation remains the end of democratic government and creation of an Islamic State in Nigeria.

Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many apprentices have been employed by contractors and sub-contractors to his Department in each year since 2010-11; and what proportion of the total workforce of such contractors is made up by apprentices.

David Lidington: Data on the number of apprentices employed by contractors and sub-contractors to the FCO is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Bhutan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consular assistance his Department offers to British nationals travelling in Bhutan.

Hugo Swire: Consular assistance for British nationals in Bhutan is provided from British deputy high commission based in Kolkata. We encourage all travellers to Bhutan to check our travel advice before travelling.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to strengthen trading relations between the UK and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

David Lidington: Our embassy in Sarajevo assists UK companies wishing to do business in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) by supporting them through the full range of UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) services. The UKTI offer includes identifying and publicising business opportunities, offering expert local market advice, and facilitating access to information, contacts and partners which would not otherwise be accessible.
	UK companies in BiH focus predominantly on roads and related infrastructure, energy, mining and aid-funded business. The UKTI office in the embassy helps UK companies to exploit particular opportunities in these areas, and has established a strong network of contacts which assist UK business.

Burma

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prevalence of sexual violence in conflict in Burma.

Hugo Swire: The nature of sexual violence in conflict in Burma means there are no accurate country-wide figures available. However, a report by the Women's League of Burma in January 2014 documented over 100 cases of sexual violence in conflict since 2010. While there are signs that incidents of sexual violence have decreased since the Burmese Government signed ceasefire agreements with a number of non-state armed groups, it remains a serious problem.

Burma

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had regarding Burma at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Hugo Swire: I met Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw during the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict on 13 June 2014. We discussed a series of bilateral issues and I raised a range of human rights concerns. I welcomed the Burmese Government’s attendance at the summit and urged them to follow-up quickly with a credible action plan that involved the military. I also raised our deep concern about the situation in Rakhine and the plight of the Rohingya. I highlighted our concern over political prisoners in Burma and encouraged the Burmese Government to reform the constitution.

Burma

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to urge the Government of Burma to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and what assessment he has made of the policy of the Government of Burma on this matter.

Hugo Swire: We have had a number of discussions with the Burmese Government on the importance of Burma ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
	At the request of the Burmese Government the British embassy in Rangoon recently funded an experts' visit to Burma for the purpose of identifying steps that would need to be taken and issues that would need to be considered in reaching the decision to ratify the ICCPR. We hope this will lay the foundations for further action in the coming months.

Burma

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Burmese counterpart on ensuring the safety of foreign aid workers delivering essential assistance to displaced Rohingya Muslims in that country.

Hugo Swire: We have made clear to the Burmese Government that intimidation and threats towards humanitarian staff are unacceptable, and that it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure there is a secure environment for them to operate. The Burmese Government must support humanitarian actors in their access and delivery of aid, freely and quickly, wherever it is needed most.
	I personally summoned the Burmese ambassador on 7 April and called on the Burmese Government (urgently) to restore humanitarian access to all communities in need and to ensure the security of humanitarian aid workers and all communities in Rakhine state. I last raised this issue with Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw on 13 June.

Burma

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether experts from the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative have been sent to Burma to investigate the attempted rape of an ethnic Chin woman by a soldier from the Burmese Army;
	(2)  what work has been done by experts from the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative on the reported use of sexual violence by the military in Burma.

Hugo Swire: We have not deployed a Team of Experts (ToE) to Burma to date, but are currently considering ways in which a ToE or other international or local actors might best assist in the delivery of PSVI objectives in Burma. We continue to lobby the Burmese Government on the prevention of sexual violence in conflict, and to support projects in Burma to that end. Most recently in June, I discussed this issue with Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

China

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Chinese counterpart the case of Zhang Shaojie, a Christian leader in Henan Province, who has been jailed for 12 years.

Hugo Swire: We remain concerned about restrictions on freedom of religion and belief in China. We are aware of the case of Pastor Zhang Shaojie, and raised it directly with Chinese officials during the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 19 to 20 May. We continue to raise our concerns with Chinese counterparts, and we also highlight them publicly through the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy.

Colombia

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart drawing his attention to public support for human rights activists in Colombia.

Hugo Swire: Human rights continue to be an integral part of our dialogue and relationship with Colombia. The embassy continues to publicly support human rights work. I raised human rights with the Colombian Government during my visit to Colombia last month. This followed visits by both the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and the Deputy Prime Minister, who each raised the issue of human rights with President Santos in February.

Colombia

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart about ensuring that British businesses and investors do not buy illegally obtained Colombian land before it is restored to its rightful owners.

Hugo Swire: The UK continues to work closely with the Colombian Government on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in line with our commitment to working for widespread international uptake.
	British embassy officials in Bogota have met with the Government, civil society and business in Colombia on various occasions to discuss the UK Action plan on business and human rights. Last year, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded a project to assist Colombia in drafting its own national policy on Human Rights. This contributed to the Colombian public policy on Business and Human Rights which has been formed as a result of consultation across 33 regions and involving over 19,000 people.

Colombia

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart about guarantees for the safety of Colombian land restitution claimants.

Hugo Swire: During my recent visit to Colombia from 25 to 27 June, I met two Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs and heads of the Colombian Government’s major human rights agencies. This included the National Protection Unit. I raised the safety of Colombian land restitution claimants. Prior to, and during my visit, I was briefed on this issue by leading international and Colombian non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
	While security for claimants and those returning to their land remains a key concern, our 2013 Human Rights Report (released on 10 April 2014) notes that progress has been made on the issue of land restitution. Between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013, over 200,000 victims received reparations under the Victims and Land Restitution law. By the end of 2013, there were 54,063 registered land restitution claims.

Colombia

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the prevalence of Colombian paramilitary involvement with the police and the armed forces of that country.

Hugo Swire: The British embassy in Bogota receives regular reporting on the security and human rights situation in Colombia from a range of sources. This includes allegations of links between paramilitaries and the public forces but not information on the prevalence of the problem.
	President Santos' government is making a genuine effort to improve respect for human rights in Colombia. Since 2008 the Colombian armed forces have introduced a widespread programme to promote respect for human rights. The UN has helped the Colombian Ministry of Defence to introduce reforms in the army for the last five years and all soldiers receive mandatory training on human rights.

Colombia

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Colombian government on the harassment of the Patriotic March leader David Florez in Colombia on 7 July 2014.

Hugo Swire: We are concerned about reports of threats and violence against members of opposition political movements. Our embassy in Bogota has raised several cases with the Colombian Government and continues to monitor the situation closely.
	The British embassy in Bogota continues to publicly support the work of human rights defenders. I met David Florez on 10 July. I raised the issue of their security with the Deputy Defence Ministers during my visit to Colombia in June.

Domestic Visits

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 639W, on official visits, what domestic visits each of the Ministers of his Department has made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.

David Lidington: Since January 2013 FCO Ministers have made official domestic visits to the locations set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Minister Location Purpose 
			 Foreign Secretary Edinburgh Scottish Referendum: To deliver speech on “The United Kingdom: Better Together” 
			 Foreign Secretary Glasgow Scottish Referendum: Launch of the “Scotland Analysis: EU and International Issues” Paper 
			 Mr Lidington Edinburgh Scottish Parliament Foreign Affairs Select Committee Evidence Session 
			 Mr Lidington Edinburgh Scottish Parliament European and External Affairs Committee Evidence Session 
		
	
	
		
			 Mr Lidington Wilton Park Wilton Park Conference 
			 Mr Lidington Cardiff Welsh Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee Session 
			 Mr Lidington Northwood HQ of EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta and NATO Maritime Command 
			 Mr Lidington Cambridge Koenigswinter Conference 
			 Mr Lidington Belfast NI Assembly evidence session and meetings 
			 Mr Swire Birmingham Opportunity Korea event 
			 Mr Swire Reading visiting Procter & Gamble 
			 Mr Swire Chertsey visiting Samsung 
			 Mr Swire Wilton Park Wilton Park Conference 
			 Mr Swire Wilton Park Wilton Park Conference 
			 Mr Swire Wilton Park Wilton Park Conference 
			 Mr Swire Ditchley Park UK-China Leadership Forum 
			 Mr Swire Wolverhampton UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Global Trade Fair 
			 Mr Swire Glasgow Commonwealth Games preparatory meetings 
			 Mr Simmonds Aberdeen Accompany President of Mozambique on visit 
			 Mr Simmonds Cambridge Visit to the British Antarctic Survey and meetings with new technology companies 
			 Mr Burt Oxford Visit to Oxford University Islamic Studies Centre 
			 Mr Burt Wilton Park Wilton Park Conference 
			 Mr Burt Northwood HQ of EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta and NATO Maritime Command ahead of official visit to Seychelles to open the Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecutions Intelligence Coordination Centre (RAPPICC).

Falkland Islands

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to deal with Argentine threats to the commercial sustainability of the Falkland Islands.

Hugo Swire: The United Kingdom fully supports the Falkland Islands in the development of their economy. Attempts by Argentina to disrupt legitimate commercial activities in the Falklands have no basis in law. Threatening Argentine rhetoric and actions are formally challenged at high levels with the Argentine Government in Buenos Aires and in international fora wherever and whenever it is necessary.
	Despite Argentine efforts, the Falkland Islands economy is sustainable, continues to grow and has a positive future. The prospective hydrocarbons industry in the Falklands continues to attract interest from new international partners and will see further exploratory drilling next year.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

David Lidington: We are unable to provide a reply as to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

India

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had on the prospects for India joining the nuclear non-proliferation treaty during his visit to that country in July 2014.

Hugo Swire: During his visit to India in July 2014, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met with the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj to discuss a wide range of issues, including civil nuclear co-operation. India welcomed the UK's strong support for their membership of the major export regimes, including the Nuclear Suppliers Group. There were no discussions on India joining the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the rise of Islamic terrorism in Northern Iraq.

Hugh Robertson: Our objective is to see a prosperous and stable Iraq as part of a stable region. The advance by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Iraq in June threatens this. Reported atrocities of summary executions, sexual violence and attacks against religious buildings by ISIL all go to show the importance of taking a strong stand against the extremists. In the immediate term the UK has provided £5 million of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of those affected by recent violence. During his recent visit to Iraq, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) emphasised the importance of unity and political inclusion to make an effective security response possible.

Middle East

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his Israeli counterpart to discuss the political situation in Israel and Palestine; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: On 3 July, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed the political situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli Foreign Minister.

Middle East

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to visit the Middle East to assist in de-escalating the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) has no immediate plans to visit the Middle East. However, he will continue to build contacts/meet international partners/Ministers to discuss the resolution of the conflict.

Nigeria

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to assist the Nigerian Government in combating Al-Shabab and prevent the kidnap of young people.

Mark Simmonds: We have no evidence that Al-Shabab operate in Nigeria, however we are committed to working with the Nigerian authorities to tackle terrorism in Nigeria, including the abduction of young people by Boko Haram.
	Following the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram in April, the Prime Minister offered a package of assistance to the Nigerian Government. This included a pledge of £1 million to the UN's Safe Schools Initiative, which aims to protect children at school. DFID will also be working with US AID on a new education initiative to bring an additional 1 million children into education in northern Nigeria by 2020. DFID will also undertake further work through its existing education programmes to ensure that schools are safer in eight other northern states in Nigeria.
	Following the Prime Minister's offer to Nigeria in May and the 12 June Nigeria ministerial meeting in London, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) announced new counter terrorism support for Nigeria in tackling Boko Haram. This includes tactical advice and training for the Nigerian military and support to regional intelligence sharing arrangements. Our support is being closely coordinated with that of international partners.

Nigeria

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the rise in Islamic terrorism in Nigeria.

Mark Simmonds: Terrorist attacks in Nigeria have caused great suffering in communities of different faiths and ethnicities. Boko Haram cannot be seen simply as a result of Christian-Muslim tensions and their attacks are often indiscriminate.
	The British Government is committed to working with the Nigerian authorities to tackle security problems in Nigeria. We recognise the underlying issues of poverty and inequality, which lead to inter-communal tensions and conflict in Nigeria and we urge political, traditional and religious leaders to work together in order to resolve these issues. DFID are delivering a range of programmes in six of the northern Nigerian states designed to address the drivers of violent extremism and conflict.

Nigeria and Cameroon

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his counterpart in Cameroon the need for constructive dialogue between that country and Nigeria in tackling Boko Haram; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Simmonds: We welcome all efforts by Cameroon and Nigeria to strengthen their security cooperation to defeat Boko Haram.
	I discussed Cameroon's efforts to tackle Boko Haram with the Cameroonian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister when I visited Yaounde in May. Both signalled their willingness to work with partners to combat Boko Haram. On 12 June in London, the Cameroonian Foreign Minister attended a ministerial meeting on security in Nigeria, hosted by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague). A key outcome was regional agreement to increased levels of coordinated border patrols by Nigeria and its neighbours, including Cameroon.

North Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on tackling the threat from Islamic extremism in northern Africa.

Hugh Robertson: The stability of the North African region is important to the UK. Extremist groups threaten regional security and the interests of our nation and our allies. The British Government has an ongoing dialogue with the United States on counter-terrorism issues, including on northern Africa.

Pakistan

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to encourage the repeal of blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

Hugh Robertson: We regularly raise the blasphemy laws and their misuse against those of all faiths at the highest levels in Pakistan. During the visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif in April, the Prime Minister raised our concerns as well as the need for reforms. We will continue to press the Pakistani Government to make progress in this area.

Palestinian Authority

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the Palestinian Authority's policy of payment of salaries to the families of convicted terrorists; what information his Department holds on the basis and scale of such payments; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: We receive no such reports. The Ministry of Finance publishes expenditure on its website on a monthly basis, including a breakdown by Ministry. The Palestinian Authority Prime Minister and other Ministers have been clear in both public and to us that their payments to families of prisoners are intended to sustain families whose primary breadwinner has been imprisoned. However, no UK money is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners or their families.

Religious Freedom

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to emphasise adherence to fundamental freedoms of religion and association as part of the UK’s foreign policy.

David Lidington: Promoting and protecting the freedom of religion or belief is a priority for UK foreign policy. We pursue it in our bilateral work and lobbying of other Governments, and through our human rights programme funding. We have also stepped up training in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on the influence of faith, in many parts of the world, on governments, communities and individuals.
	Our work is based on the full definition of freedom of religion or belief as set out in article 18 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This includes the right to manifest your faith, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, through teaching, practice, worship and observance.
	The FCO Minister responsible for freedom of religion or belief, the Senior Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi, has convened meetings of international leaders to generate support for practical steps to promote freedom of religion or belief and to fight religious intolerance. At the Global summit to end sexual violence in conflict, Baroness Warsi chaired a dialogue between political and faith leaders, and supported a separate non-governmental organisation (NGO)-led event, to explore the role faith groups play, and to enlist their support for the objectives of the summit.
	Freedoms of association and peaceful assembly, enshrined in both the Universal Declaration and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, are fundamental for democratic societies, where people must be able to gather (formally or informally), to express themselves, and to have a meaningful say in issues that affect them. Though these rights are not among the FCO’s six thematic human rights priorities, they feature prominently in our dialogue with individual countries and in international fora about governance, the rule of law and human rights in general.

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Hugh Robertson: There have been no senior civil servants appointed to the FCO since 2010, who were previously political appointees within the FCO or employed by a political party.

Terrorism

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission's Radicalisation Awareness Network and its Working Group on Voices of Victims of Terrorism in the last three years.

Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not had discussions with the European Commission’s Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) and its working group on Voices of Victims of Terrorism in the last three years, but did send a representative to a RAN working group meeting in 2013 on a separate issue.

Thailand

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Thai counterpart on allegations of the mistreatment of elephants in trekking camps in Thailand.

Hugo Swire: I have not had any discussions with my Thai counterpart on the allegations of mistreatment of elephants in trekking camps in Thailand. However, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DEFRA, my noble Friend Lord de Mauley, visited Bangkok at the beginning of May 2014 and was able to pursue a number of animal welfare issues with the Thai Government. He discussed efforts to counter the illegal trade in wildlife in Thailand with his Thai counterpart, senior officials, non-government organisations (NGOs), the UN and like-minded embassies.
	Additionally, our embassy in Bangkok has reinforced the messages stemming from the February 2014 London declaration to prevent illegal wildlife trade, and continues to engage with those organisations in Thailand which are working to deliver this agenda despite the coup.

Thailand

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps HM Embassy in Bangkok is taking to retrieve the passport of Andy Hall.

Hugo Swire: If Mr Hall needs to use his passport to travel overseas it is possible for him/his lawyer to apply to the court for “international bail” which, if agreed, would enable Mr Hall’s lawyer to retrieve his passport for him to use, subject to any conditions that the court might set.
	If Mr Hall does not wish to apply for international bail and wishes to apply for a replacement passport instead, we must first of all make a formal request to the court for the return of his original passport. If we do not receive Mr Hall’s passport, or a response from the authorities, within 10 days, we would discuss with Mr Hall his options for obtaining a replacement passport. However, an approach by the embassy to the court in this way might result in Mr Hall’s bail being revoked. If Mr Hall asked us to do this, we would request that he sign a pro-forma acknowledging that the consequences of applying for a new passport have been explained to him. We have also asked Mr Hall to bear in mind that the courts may have placed some sort of immigration stop/block against his name/passport number (or might do so upon receipt of a letter from the embassy asking for the return of his passport), and so even if Mr Hall did get his current passport back, or obtain a new passport, he may not be able to leave Thailand on it. Mr Hall has also been advised to consult his lawyer about these issues.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Hugh Robertson: Strengthening the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as an institution is a priority under our “Diplomatic Excellence” programme. Our staff are able to access a range of courses to continue their professional development. In 2013-14 staff undertook activities and qualifications in various fields including audit, accountancy, human resources, procurement, economics, communications, foreign languages, project and programme management, law, estate asset management and information management. Departments in London and posts overseas have devolved funds for learning and development activities. To obtain titles for all courses available and the cost of each opportunity taken can only be done at disproportionate cost.

Ukraine

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what security guidance his Department provides to British nationals wishing to travel to Ukraine.

David Lidington: Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice provides objective information and advice to help British nationals make better-informed decisions about foreign travel. This includes information on security. Our travel advice is reviewed regularly, and is updated if we are aware of an incident that might significantly affect Britons travelling or living in the area. The current travel advice for Ukraine is on the gov.uk website at
	https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine

JUSTICE

Care Proceedings

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether there have been significant delays in care proceedings involving children in family courts in England and Wales since the implementation of the legal aid reforms in 2013; and if he will publish statistics of the length of such proceedings;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the length of care proceedings involving children in England and Wales of the reforms to legal aid since April 2013.

Simon Hughes: The average time for the disposal of a care or supervision application fell from 42.3 weeks (January to March 2013) to 32.0 weeks (January to March 2014). In the last quarter for which figures are available. Care proceedings timeliness is published and monitored in the Court Statistics Quarterly:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2014
	Legal aid remains available in public family law matters such as care proceedings.

Care Proceedings

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applicants did not receive legal aid to pursue residency and contact cases that they would have received before the reforms to legal aid since April 2013.

Shailesh Vara: The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) does not record whether an application for legal aid made following the implementation of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) in April 2013 would have been granted prior to the reforms introduced by LASPO.
	LASPO changed the scope of legal aid, however in many cases there are multiple reasons for a case being refused, not just that the case is out of the scope of LASPO. Usually these reasons relate to eligibility which means the applicant may not have been able to get legal aid prior to LASPO regardless of whether their case is in scope or not.
	LASPO also changed some eligibility requirements, therefore the LAA would not be able to identify whether the client was refused because they no longer met eligibility requirements (i.e. a non-scope reason) where they previously would have done, as the LAA does not record this information.
	An Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) application for civil legal services can be made where a case falls outside the scope of legal aid but the client or conducting solicitor believes there is evidence to support there being a requirement to provide funding because failure to do so would be a breach of, or having regard to any risk that failure to do so would be such a breach of, their Convention rights (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998), or any rights of the individual to the provision of legal services that are enforceable EU rights.

Civil Servants: Business Interests

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what occasions in the last four years the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments has been notified under the Business Appointment Rules of former officials of his Department taking up employment after leaving government; what advice the Committee published; what conditions the Committee laid down; whether any such conditions have been breached; and in each case what organisation the official went to work for.

Shailesh Vara: Details of all appointments the Advisory Committee on Business Affairs (ACOBA) advised on for officials above pay band SCS2, can be found at the ACOBA website at:
	http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/former_crown_servants/former_crown_servants_appointments_2012.aspx
	Older appointments are published in their annual reports which are on the website:
	http://acoba.independent.gov.uk/publications/reports.aspx
	Appointments are not arranged by Department order, however a word search stating ‘Ministry of Justice’ on the website will show any which relate to the Ministry of Justice. The website outlines advice and conditions the Committee applied to the organisations where the individuals went to work.
	I can also confirm that there have been 21 officials below SCS2 who were subject to the Business Appointment rules. These officials were employed by the organisations listed as follows.
	Probation Association
	Oxford University
	Turner and Townsend
	Commonwealth Secretariat
	JAC
	Capability Jane
	SThree Plc
	Compass Group Plc
	Met Police Service
	Nuffield
	ATOS
	Cap Gemini
	Lockheed Martin UK
	Catch 22
	Ernst and Young
	University of Cambridge
	Project Associates UK Ltd
	The conditions for staff under pay band SCS2 are set by the Department and not ACOBA. These conditions are as follows:
	That, from the member of staffs last day of service, their role will not involve lobbying and you should not engage in communication with Government (including Ministers, special advisers and officials) with a view to influencing a Government decision or policy in relation to their own interests, or the interests of the organisation by which they are employed, or to whom they are contracted.
	The member of staff should also not have any dealings with advising bidders on any MOJ contract.
	These conditions remain in place for a period of X year from the member of staff last day of service (maximum of two years).
	We are not seeking to prevent communications with Government which might be described as being in the normal course of business, for example where the Government holds regular stakeholder events with an industry or sector, or where the purpose of any dealings is to take forward an existing Government policy.
	The Department holds no record of these conditions being breached.

Courts

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many litigants in person have appeared before courts in England and Wales in each year since 2010.

Shailesh Vara: Details of self-representation in criminal and civil courts can be obtained only by manually checking every case file at disproportionate costs.
	The numbers for family cases showing self-representing applicants and respondents are published quarterly. Self-representation is determined by the field ‘legal representation’ in the Ministry of Justice administrative database being left blank. Therefore, this is only a proxy measure and parties without a recorded representative are not necessarily self-representing litigants in person.
	Information for parties’ representation is available for family courts at a national level from 2011. The data are in table 2.4 of Court Statistics Quarterly, available at this link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/court-statistics-quarterly
	Litigants in person are not a new phenomenon in our courts. Judges are used to helping persons with no legal representation, including explaining procedures and what is expected of them. We have taken steps to help people who either want or have to represent themselves in court, including publishing a revised guide for separating parents and increased training for judges. The link to the guide is:
	http://hmctsformfinder.justice.gov.uk/HMCTS/GetLeaflet.do?court_leaflets_id=2756

Courts: Children

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will extend the role of registered intermediaries to include participation in all court proceedings involving children. [R]

Damian Green: Intermediaries were introduced in the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to help vulnerable witnesses, including children, communicate their evidence during criminal proceedings. Though there are no plans to extend the use of registered intermediaries to other court proceedings, we are working with our partners in the criminal justice system to increase the provision and uptake of registered intermediaries.

Courts: Video Conferencing

Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to increase the number and availability of remote sites for video conferencing with courtrooms;
	(2)  what body is responsible for holding data on the number and availability of remote sites for video conferencing with courtrooms.

Shailesh Vara: In 2013, ‘Transforming the CJS: a strategy and action plan to transform the Criminal Justice System’ was published. The plan included actions to increase video usage across the CJS and made specific commitments to increase the use of prison to court video links and make it easier for witnesses and police officers to give evidence via video link. The action plan included a commitment to review the range of actions that it covers, and a revised plan is due to be published this summer.
	Over the next few years, under the Future IT Sourcing Programme, the Ministry of Justice will continue to increase the number of video rooms at court that are enabled for remote links.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis) on 8 July 2014, Official Report, column 256W.
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140708/text/140708w0004.htm# 140708w0004.htm_wqn13

Criminal Proceedings: Veterans

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when his Department's review of veterans in the criminal justice system will be published. [R]

Shailesh Vara: The review is due to report back to the Secretary of State for Justice in autumn 2014 and we anticipate publishing it shortly thereafter.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Shailesh Vara: The Ministry of Justice does not centrally record the legal fees incurred by the Department in obtaining legal advice in relation to requests for information under the Freedom of information Act 2000. To obtain this information from across the Ministry would incur a disproportionate cost.

Homicide

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 78W, on homicide, if he will require the Legal Aid Agency to record an offence type of homicide in future. [R]

Shailesh Vara: There are no plans to do so as there is no legal or business requirement to record this information and it would be disproportionate to require the agency to do so.

Homicide: Victim Support Schemes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 305W, on homicide: victim support schemes, what the names are of the 13 peer support groups; and in which (a) town and (b) region each such group is based.

Damian Green: The information requested is set out in the table below:
	
		
			 Peer support group Town Region 
			 Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Swindon South West 
			 Disaster Action London London 
			 Families Fighting For Justice Liverpool North West 
			 Justice After Acquittal (JAA) Manchester North West 
			 JAGS Foundation Croydon London 
			 The Jason Spencer Trust Nottingham East Midlands 
			 The Jimmy Mizen Foundation London London 
			 KnifeCrimes.Org Colchester East of England 
			 Mothers Against Murder And Aggression (MAMAA) UK Borehamwood East of England 
			 National Victims’ Association (NVA) Jarrow North East 
			 Support After Murder And Manslaughter (SAMM) Merseyside Liverpool North West 
			 Support After Murder And Manslaughter (SAMM) National Birmingham West Midlands 
			 Through Unity London London

Homicide: Victim Support Schemes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims bereaved by homicide received support from Victim Support under the National Homicide Service in each region of England and in Wales in each year since 2011. [R]

Damian Green: On the basis of information supplied by Victim Support, organised by region, the number of individuals referred to the Victim Support Homicide Service by the police, and through the FCO (where the homicide occurred abroad), for support where consent for contact by the Service was given by the individual, is:
	
		
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 North West 312 259 219 322 
			 North East 262 263 227 316 
			 London 272 242 202 287 
			 South West 287 273 207 302 
			 South East 310 255 225 315 
			      
			 Total 1,443 1,292 1,080 1,542

Homicide: Victim Support Schemes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 305W, on homicide: victim support schemes, what evaluation mechanisms are included in the Grant for Coordination and Delivery of Support to those Bereaved by Homicide. [R]

Damian Green: From 1 October 2014 the Ministry of Justice will require robust data from the grant recipient for the Homicide Service.
	The grant recipient will be required to provide (subject to refinement during the grant period) data on outcomes achieved in relation to all those supported: including improvement to the quality of their lives and ability to cope with normal activities during and following support provision. In addition, data on user satisfaction will be required and monitoring of any complaints received.
	The Ministry of Justice will also require an accurate record of all expenditure in connection with the grant as described in the Grant Agreement, and shall put in place arrangements to provide to the authority such information as may be required.

Homicide: Victim Support Schemes

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 78W, on homicide: victim support schemes, which of the peer support groups within the original victim support bid cater specifically for those bereaved through homicide abroad. [R]

Damian Green: The Victim Support bid to provide the national Homicide Service from 1 October 2014 included the provision of caseworker support and support from Missing Abroad (The Lucie Blackman Trust) for families bereaved by homicide abroad. None of the peer support groups which formed part of Victim Support’s bid only support families where the homicide has occurred abroad. However, the bid included organisations which can provide peer support including (but not exclusively) if the bereavement by homicide occurred abroad. The grant award for the provision of the Homicide Service includes up to £100,000 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to support those bereaved by homicide abroad.

Legal Aid Scheme

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for legal aid for family matters have been refused since April 2013; and how many of these were subsequently granted under the Exceptional Funding Scheme.

Shailesh Vara: An Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) application for civil legal services is made where a case falls outside the scope of legal aid but the client or conducting solicitor believes there is evidence to support there being a requirement to provide funding because failure to do so would be a breach of, or having regard to any risk that failure to do so would be such a breach of, their Convention rights (within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998), or any rights of the individual to the provision of legal services that are enforceable EU rights.
	The Legal Aid Agency does not record whether an ECF application (under Clause 10 of LASPO) has previously been refused as being outside the scope of Schedule 1 of LASPO.
	From 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014, 6,552 Licensed Work applications for legal aid for family matters were refused. On 852 of these refused applications, one of the reasons for refusal involved the application being outside the scope of Schedule 1 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO).
	I can confirm that nine applications for legal aid for family matters were granted under the Exceptional Case Funding scheme between 1st April 2013 and 31st March 2014.

Magistrates

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people served as magistrates in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Shailesh Vara: The total numbers of magistrates serving in England and Wales in each of the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2013-14 21,613 
			 2012-13 23,244 
			 2011-12 25,155 
			 2010-11 26,966 
			 2009-10 29,270 
		
	
	The reduction in the overall number of serving magistrates is a natural consequence of falling workloads in the magistrates courts, due to factors such as falling crime combined with the relatively steady levels of retirements and resignations.

Medicine: Research

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the EU General Data Protection Regulation on medical research; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Hughes: The Government is aware of the concerns raised by representatives of the research community about amendments to the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation which could prevent health research involving personal data from taking place. Many of these concerns centre on amendments to the proposed regulation that have been agreed by the Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) committee of the European Parliament.
	The Government’s view is that the ability of researchers to process personal data in the way that they are legitimately able to do so at present must be preserved. The Government remains attentive to the concerns raised and will continue to engage with representatives of the research community about the processing of personal data for medical research purposes under the proposed regulation.

Members: Correspondence

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will estimate the total number of ministerial replies from his Department to hon. Members in a parliamentary Session; and what proportion of such replies are sent (a) by letter and (b) by email.

Jeremy Wright: I refer my hon. Friend to PQ 203298, responded to by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 7 July 2014, Official Report, columns 5-6W.

Pornography: Internet

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government is taking to address the problem of revenge pornography; and if he will meet representatives of the National Union of Students to discuss that matter.

Damian Green: The Government believes the posting of revenge porn is a despicable act and is one which can have devastating consequences for the victim.
	The Government is looking seriously at this area of the law to ensure it is strong enough to deal with this behaviour.
	I am happy to consider any representations that the National Union of Students wishes to submit.

Prison Accommodation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether spaces in segregation units and in hospital or medical wings count towards a prison’s certified normal accommodation.

Jeremy Wright: Prison Service Instruction 17/2012 “Certified Prisoner Accommodation” which is published on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/offenders/psis/prison-service-instructions-2012
	sets out that deputy directors of custody (DDCs) are responsible for determining which accommodation is not included in baseline certified normal accommodation, based on operational issues and other management considerations.
	The certified normal accommodation (CNA) of a prison is its uncrowded capacity. General guidance within PSI 17/2012 sets out that baseline certified normal accommodation is the sum total of all certified accommodation in an establishment except, normally: cells in segregation units and health care cells or rooms in training prisons and young offender institutions that are not routinely used to accommodate long stay patients.

Prison Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of former prison staff who will be members of Her Majesty's Prison Service Reserve;
	(2)  to how many former prison staff his Department has written on the formation of Her Majesty's Prison Service Reserve;
	(3)  whether former prison staff recruited to Her Majesty's Prison Service Reserve will be liable to return all or part of any severance or redundancy packages they received.

Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service has written to 2,066 selected former officers who left during the past two years, inviting them to volunteer for a fixed term contract of up to nine months.
	There is no limit on, or estimate of, the number of former officers who may be accepted to join the HMPS Reserve.
	The provisions for the repayment of voluntary exit payments upon re-appointment are defined by the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. Information on the Civil Service Compensation Scheme is available on the Civil Service website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions

Prisoners' Release

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many life sentence prisoners were released on temporary licence in each month between 2010 and 2013.

Jeremy Wright: Table A gives the number of prisoners released on temporary licence in each month of 2011, 2012 and 2013, broken down by type of sentence. Data is unavailable for 2010. It should be noted that a single individual may be released multiple times in different months. These individuals will appear once in each month they are released. Therefore, the sum across all months in a year will not equate to the total number of individuals released in a year. That data is published in table A3.11 of the Offender Management Caseload Statistics at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-october-december-2013-and-annual
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	Instances of ROTL have increased in recent years and Table A underlines the part played by the increase in the number of prisoners serving life and particularly indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPPs). One of the weaknesses our review identified in the approach to ROTL that has been in place since 2006 was that all prisoners were subject to the same risk assessment procedures regardless of sentence or risk. We have introduced a new approach whereby high risk and serious offenders, including all lifers and IPPS, will be subjected to an enhanced regime of restricted ROTL under which temporary release decisions may be made only by the governor or deputy, and the board recommending the decision must consider a psychologist’s review report.
	
		
			 Table A: Number of indeterminate prisoners granted ROTL in each month1 between 2011 and 2013, England and Wales 
			  Determinate Life IPP All 
			 2011     
			 January 3,357 238 266 3,861 
			 February 3,416 259 300 3,975 
			 March 3,447 260 324 4,031 
			 April 3,496 276 355 4,127 
			 May 3,586 302 377 4,265 
			 June 3,659 319 384 4,362 
			 July 3,722 315 403 4,440 
			 August 3,733 319 421 4,473 
			 September 3,713 317 424 4,454 
			 October 3,696 321 445 4,462 
			 November 3,640 324 446 4,410 
			 December 3,718 313 451 4,482 
			      
			 2012     
			 January 3,636 324 437 4,397 
			 February 3,638 305 429 4,372 
			 March 3,752 319 429 4,500 
			 April 3,729 327 428 4,484 
			 May 3,691 326 438 4,455 
			 June 3,745 324 435 4,504 
			 July 3,800 334 454 4,588 
			 August 3,886 331 474 4,691 
			 September 3,836 346 499 4,681 
			 October 3,846 337 505 4,688 
			 November 3,815 340 493 4,648 
			 December 3,834 332 483 4,649 
			      
			 2013     
			 January 3,680 322 495 4,497 
			 February 3,747 337 487 4,571 
			 March 3,938 317 509 4,764 
			 April 3,883 317 502 4,702 
			 May 3,961 297 510 4,768 
			 June 4,019 305 482 4,806 
			 July 4,077 295 491 4,863 
			 August 4,079 288 484 4,851 
			 September 3,997 284 449 4,730 
			 October 3,925 267 458 4,650 
			 November 3,786 250 425 4,461 
			 December 3,732 229 409 4,370 
			 1 A single individual may be released multiple times in different months. These individuals will appear once in each month they are released. Therefore, the sum across all months in a year will not equate to the total number of distinct individuals released in a year. Note: Reliable data for 2010 is not available due to the introduction of a new data system.

Prisons: Buildings

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the status is of each prison building and site for prisons closed since May 2010.

Jeremy Wright: We are determined to drive down the cost of running our prisons. That is why we are replacing older accommodation that is expensive to run with newer, cheaper and more efficient accommodation that will provide better value for money for taxpayers by reducing prison costs significantly.
	Where surplus prison sites have been identified, we will look to dispose of them expeditiously.
	
		
			 Status of each prison building and site closed since May 2010 
			 Former prison name Status 
			 HMP Ashwell Sold on 14 December 2012 
			 HMP Lancaster Castle Lancaster Castle was leased from the Duchy of Lancaster. The lease was surrendered to the Duchy 
			 HMP Latchmere Sold on 29 April 2013 
			 HMP Canterbury Sold on 1 April 2014 
			 HMP Brockhill (formed part of HMP Hewell) On the market 
			 HMP Wellingborough Decommissioned 
			 HMP Bullwood Hall Under offer 
			 HMP Gloucester On the market 
			 HMP Kingston On the market 
			 HMP Shepton Mallet On the market 
			 HMP Shrewsbury On the market 
			 HMP Dorchester On the market 
			 HMP Camp Hill—part of the Isle of Wight cluster Preparing for disposal (including discussions with local authority) 
			 HMP Blundeston Preparing for disposal (including discussions with local authority) 
			 HMP Northallerton Preparing for disposal (including discussions with local authority) 
			 HMP Reading Preparing for disposal (including discussions with local authority)

Prisons: Publications

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many books there are in HM Prison (a) Leeds and (b) Wakefield.

Jeremy Wright: The requested information is not held centrally and would need to be obtained and collated through enquiries at each prison. This would require a manual search of all cells and all other areas where books might be held. This would incur disproportionate cost.

Public Defender Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which barristers are employed by the Public Defence Service; and what day rates each such person charges.

Shailesh Vara: In a joint statement with the Bar Council, the Criminal Bar Association and the Circuit Leaders, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed that normal working relationships have been restored and there is no need to expand the PDS Advocacy Unit further.
	As at 10 July 2014, the following barristers have commenced employment with the PDS:
	Queens Counsel
	David Aubrey QC
	Gregory Bull QC
	John Burton QC
	Alun Jenkins QC
	Andrew Lamb QC
	Stephen Leslie QC
	Michael Wood QC
	Juniors
	Lisa Hennessey
	Robin Howat
	Tom Mitchell
	Gerald Mohabir
	Emma Nott
	Simon Perkins
	Adam Roxborough
	Martin L Sharpe
	Peter Woodall
	George Zachary
	As employed barristers, no day rates are charged for work done.

Public Defender Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many barristers have been employed by the Public Defence Service in each month since January 2014.

Shailesh Vara: Since January 2014 the PDS has employed the following number of Barristers (full-time equivalent):
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
			 January 2014 0.5 
			 February 2014 2 
			 March 2014 2 
			 April 2014 4.5 
			 May 2014 6.5

Public Defender Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent on advertising vacancies in the Public Defence Service in 2014.

Shailesh Vara: £15,494.72 has been spent on advertising vacancies within the PDS in 2014. This includes vacancies for Accredited Police Station Representatives as well as for Queens Counsel and Higher Courts Advocates.

Public Defender Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent on the Public Defence Service in each month of 2014.

Shailesh Vara: The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Total monthly expenditure 
			  £ 
			 January 174,484 
			 February 229,646 
			 March 362,060 
			 April 268,849 
		
	
	The rise in cost over the periods January to April is due to the recruitment of advocates in readiness for the PDS advocacy service, and the inclusion of accruals in March for costs relating to IT enhancements and facilities management.

Road Traffic Offences: Sussex

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what advice he has taken from the Information Commissioner's Office about data protection and freedom of information issues arising from Sussex Police's promotion of the Operation Crackdown.

Simon Hughes: The Information Commissioner has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice and other Ministry of Justice Ministers about a range of information rights issues. However, I am not aware that he has raised data protection and freedom of information issues relating to Sussex police's promotion of Operation Crackdown during the course of these discussions.

Senior Civil Servants: Business Interests

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many officials in his Department in civil service pay bands (a) SCS Pay Band 4/Grade 1, (b) SCS Pay Band 3/Grade 2, (c) SCS Pay Band 2/Grade 3 and (d) SCS Pay Band 1/Grade 5 have left to work for (a) G4S, (b) Serco, (c) Sodexo, (d) GEOAmey, (e) Capita, (f) Atos, (g) Mitie, (h) Working Links, (i) A4E, (j) MTC Amey, (k) GEO Group and (l) Carillion since May 2010.

Shailesh Vara: This information is not held by the Department as officials who leave are not obliged to inform the Department on future employment.
	Officials are only obliged to inform the Department of future employment under Business Appointment Rules where there may be a conflict of interest. For information of those who have I refer the right hon. Members to the answer provided for PQ 204091.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to speed up the appeals process for people whose benefits have been sanctioned.

Shailesh Vara: The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) decisions on a range of benefits.
	In order to increase the capacity of the Tribunal, and therefore speed up the appeals process, HMCTS has recruited almost 200 extra judges and over 250 medical members, increased venue capacity by almost 30%, extended opening times and introduced more efficient processes. This action and a recent reduction in appeal receipts has enabled HMCTS to reduce outstanding workloads.

Trade Unions

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons he decided against change following his review into his Department's check-off system for employees' trade union subscriptions.

Jeremy Wright: Check-off arrangements are kept under review.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Damian Green: Professional development, in the form of formal learning, is available to all members of staff within the Ministry of Justice and processes are in place to ensure that where there is a business and development need learning can be accessed. There are currently 22 professions across the civil service and each will have their own framework of qualifications.
	In order to answer the question in detail we will need to contact every profession, request the framework and then identify the costs for each qualification. In addition we will need to interrogate the Civil Service Learning portal to identify each professions qualifications and costs. This information is not readily available and is not held centrally and therefore would incur disproportionate cost to obtain.

Young Offenders: Rehabilitation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to implement Schedule 1, paragraph 35 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 on reviewing youth rehabilitation orders in each court since May 2010. [R]

Jeremy Wright: Reducing reoffending and the better rehabilitation of young offenders are key priorities for this Government. We believe that the Youth Rehabilitation Order enables courts to sentence in a flexible and tailored way in order to effectively address offending behaviour.
	We are aware that Lord Carlile has recommended the implementation of this provision in his recent report into the effectiveness of the Youth Court. We are currently considering all of the report's recommendations, alongside other Departments, local authorities and the senior judiciary.

Youth Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children in the child protection system entered the youth justice system in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years. [R]

Jeremy Wright: The ‘child protection system’ can be taken to encompass a wide framework of referral, assessment, investigation and care processes. Information is not held centrally on the number of children subject to such processes who have entered the youth justice system.
	Young people entering the youth justice system will receive a full assessment of their needs by a youth justice practitioner, which will include establishing their care status and history and evaluation of other factors affecting their offending behaviour, in order to inform effective interventions.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Abu Qatada

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 128W, on Didier Pierre Paulet, for what reasons her Department commented on the case of Abu Qatada.

Karen Bradley: It is the general policy of the Home Office not to disclose to a third party personal information about another person's immigration status unless there is a substantial public interest in doing so. In cases where there is a genuine and legitimate public interest in disclosure, we will comment to the extent necessary. This is underpinned by the first data protection principle, which allows for the disclosure of non-sensitive personal data for the exercise of functions of a public nature in the public interest.

Animal Experiments

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Option 3 in her Department's consultation on the review of section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 would be effected by a statutory instrument under section 75 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Norman Baker: The public consultation on options to review section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 closed on 13 June 2014 and we are actively analysing responses in preparation for pursuing legislative change.
	We are already exploring the use of an Order under section 75 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to amend or repeal section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. My intention is that any legislative change that we decide to make will be in force by May 2015.

Asylum: Deportation

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been returned from the UK to the last safe country they left under the Dublin II Regulation in each calendar year since May 2010.

Karen Bradley: The Dublin Regulation is helpful in ensuring that asylum seekers who are the responsibility of another participating member state can be transferred from the UK to that member state.
	The information requested is shown in the following table. To note, the data provided is for the entirety of 2010, rather than from May 2010 onwards.
	The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
	
		
			  People transferred 
			 2010 1,162 
			 2011 954 
			 2012 756 
			 2013 757

Asylum: Employment

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were granted permission to work in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013.

Karen Bradley: These questions could be answered only through a disproportionately expensive manual case search to collate the data.

Asylum: Syria

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what system is in place to regularly review the number of Syrian resettlement places in the UK as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme in order to ensure the scheme is responsive to need.

Karen Bradley: We launched the Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme to help particularly vulnerable displaced Syrians, for whom resettlement to the UK is the only option. In particular, the programme prioritises survivors of torture and violence, women and children at risk and those in need of medical care. We are working closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the region to identify the exceptional cases whose needs are so profound that they need to be resettled to a country like the UK. The scheme is therefore based on need, rather than designed to meet set arrival projections. However, we will continue to bring groups here on a regular basis, and envisage that several hundred people will be helped over the next three years.

Commonwealth Games 2014

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to ensure that people who visit Scotland to participate in or watch the Commonwealth Games in 2014 are not able to remain in the country illegally after the Games have finished.

Karen Bradley: The rigorous Accreditation Process applied to those participating in the Commonwealth Games which contributed to the success of our Olympic Games in 2012 have also been central to our preparations for Glasgow 2014.
	Comprehensive records checks on all Commonwealth Games participants and Games Family Members are conducted before they are cleared to enter the UK. We have also introduced arrangements to confirm that people given Commonwealth Games clearance have left the UK within their permitted time limits.
	People who visit Scotland to watch the Commonwealth Games are treated as visitors to the United Kingdom and as such the normal Immigration Rules apply.

Crimes of Violence: Females

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female victims of (a) grievous bodily harm and (b) actual bodily harm there were (i) of each age and (ii) in each ward in the latest year for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The information requested is not available from the police recorded data collected by the Home Office. While statistics are held on the number of recorded offences of grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm, it is not possible to identify either the gender or the age of the victim from the aggregate returns.
	In addition, recorded crime data is not available at ward level.

Detention Centres

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) red incidents and (b) amber incidents have occurred at each Immigration Removal Centre in each of the last four years.

Karen Bradley: Incidents in the detention estate are reported in accordance with Detention Services Order (DSO) 12/2008. Incidents are classified according to their seriousness as red, amber or green.
	Examples of the types of red or amber incidents are given in the DSO. Red incidents are generally those relating to serious disturbances and/or fires within a centre. Amber incidents may be those involving threats to the centre, external demonstrations, or co-ordinated food or fluid refusal.
	This data has been collected by different business areas in the Home Office over the data period requested and has not been collated centrally.
	Management information is available only for the period 1 July 2013 to 9 March 2014 in the following table and is in line with the data period for published statistics.
	This data is management information collected and collated from Immigration Removal Centre suppliers. This information does not form part of published statistics and is not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications. It is provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			 Incidents in immigration removal centres for the period 1 July 2013 to 9 March 2014 by status 
			 IRC Red incidents Amber incidents Total of incidents 
			 Brook House 2 59 61 
			 Campsfield 1 14 15 
			 Colnbrook 4 109 113 
			 Dover 1 39 40 
			 Dungavel 0 3 3 
			 Harmondsworth 0 145 145 
			 Haslar 0 2 2 
			 Morton Hall 6 29 35 
			 Tinsley House 0 17 17 
			 Yarlswood 1 109 110 
		
	
	
		
			 Total 15 528 541

Economic Policy: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to support the Government's implementation of the economic pact with the Northern Ireland Executive, Building a Prosperous and United Community.

Karen Bradley: On 16 June 2014 the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), announced the introduction of a British-Irish Visa Scheme which, from autumn 2014, will allow Chinese and Indian nationals with a visit visa from the Republic of Ireland to travel to the UK without the need for a separate UK visit visa. One aim of the scheme is to help promote trade and tourism in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and thus to support the economic pact.

Educational Testing Service

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 206, on student visas, whether she is seeking financial compensation from the Educational Testing Service.

James Brokenshire: Investigations are ongoing and all potential remedies are being pursued.

Educational Testing Service

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the student immigrants who were found to have either invalid or questionable English language test results by the Government's recent review of the test provider Educational Testing Services were granted leave to enter the UK in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: As I said in my oral statement to Parliament on 24 June 2014, analysis from the American arm of Educational Testing Service (ETS) for a number of their UK test centres has identified more than 29,000 invalid results and more than 19,000 questionable results. The analyses from other ETS test centres in the UK are still to be received and it is, therefore, likely that the true totals will be higher.
	As these test results were obtained in the UK in 2012 and 2013 and, where used in an immigration application, will have been used chiefly to extend temporary leave, it is reasonable to conclude that a significant proportion first came to this country under the student visa system that operated prior to April 2011.
	Analysis is ongoing and it is not possible to provide further data at present. As I stated to the House on 24 June, the Home Office will provide regular updates on progress on further information we receive from ETS.

Educational Testing Service

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of people who have applied for entry clearance as (a) students and (b) family members of settled people including evidence of their knowledge of the English language through a Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) certificate obtained through Educational Testing Service and whose applications are on hold while their right to hold that qualification is tested.

James Brokenshire: Analysis by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and Home Office officials is ongoing and it is not possible to provide further data at present. As I stated to the House on 24 June, the Home Office will provide regular updates on further information we receive from ETS.

Educational Testing Service

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which countries her Department is investigating the Test of English for International Communication language test certificates from Educational Testing Service and the individuals who have provided them as part of the evidence in their visa applications.

James Brokenshire: The American arm of the Educational Testing Service (ETS) has so far identified more than 29,000 invalid results and more than 19,000 questionable English language test results from a number of ETS test centres operating in the UK in 2012 and 2013. Investigations are focused on ETS test centres in the UK, where there is clear evidence of fraudulent activity. ETS have also examined results from some of their overseas test centres, but they have so far not found widespread abuse in those locations.

Entry Clearances: English Language

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to inform people whose entry clearance applications are on hold because of investigation into their Test of English for International Communication qualifications about (a) the fact that this is the case and (b) any action they can take to continue their entry clearance applications.

James Brokenshire: All applications made by those in the UK using an Educational Testing Service (ETS) certificate have been placed on hold since February. Overseas visa applicants seeking entry clearance who are reliant on an ETS test certificate are not on hold but subject to interview by UK Visa and Immigration staff. In addition, information was placed on GOV.UK in April and has been updated since. This can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approved-english-language-tests

Entry Clearances: Married People

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of spouse visa applications have taken more than one year to process in each of the last five years.

Karen Bradley: The management information (which is subject to change) in the table relates to spouse and civil partner visa applications processed overseas (issued, refused, lapsed or withdrawn) relating to non-EEA nationals seeking to join or accompany a spouse or civil partner who is settled in, or being admitted for settlement to, the UK. The percentages are rounded to 2 decimal points, and relate to applications that took more than one year to process.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 2009 0.00 
			 2010 0.10 
			 2011 0.04 
			 2012 0.05 
			 2013 0.18 
		
	
	Percentage of spouse and civil partner visa applications processed overseas from non-EEA nationals seeking to join or accompany a spouse or civil partner who is settled in, or being admitted for settlement to, the UK where the application took more than one year to process.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement of 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 206, what the terms of reference are of the working group established, who the members of that group are and when that group is first expected to meet; and if she will make a written statement to the House on the conclusion of that group's work.

James Brokenshire: The initial members invited to join the working group are:
	Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)
	Universities UK (UUK)
	UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)
	Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
	Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCEW)
	Scottish Funding Council
	National Union of Student (NUS)
	British Council
	UCAS
	Association of Colleges (AoC)
	Guild HE
	Russell Group
	Welsh Assembly Government
	The first working group meeting took place on 7 July.
	The draft terms of reference were discussed at the first meeting and will be finalised in discussion with working group partners. Once finalised, a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
	As I stated to the House on 24 June, the Home Office will provide regular updates to the House on progress with this work.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of student visa applicants who illegally gained entry to the UK as a result of fraudulent language testing in the last 10 years; and how many of these applicants have now been removed from the UK.

James Brokenshire: As I stated in my oral statement to Parliament on 24 June, analysis from the American arm of Educational Testing Service (ETS) for a number of their UK test centres has identified more than 29,000 invalid results and more than 19,000 questionable results. The analyses from other ETS test centres in the UK are still to be received and it is, therefore, likely that the true totals will be higher.
	These people took tests in the UK and had therefore previously entered the UK. As I stated, a significant proportion of students who have been caught cheating came to this country through a student visa system created before this Government reformed the English requirements in 2011.
	Significant numbers of these people will have used these certificates in support of applications to temporarily extend their stay in the UK for study, work or other purposes. As I indicated, the House will be updated periodically on numbers relating to this matter.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the costs of identifying and removing student visa applicants who entered the country illegally as a result of fraudulent language testing.

James Brokenshire: Analysis by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) is ongoing and it is not possible to provide further data, including costs data, at present. As I stated to the House on 24 June, the Home Office will provide regular updates on progress with work to remove these students and on further information we receive from ETS.

Fisheries: Scotland

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Force has reached any understanding with individual Scottish fishing boats regarding the employment of members of their crew who are not citizens of EEA member states.

Karen Bradley: There are no local understandings in place and any action is in line with the Immigration Rules and Border Force Operating Mandate.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Karen Bradley: Legal costs in relation to FOI cannot be provided as they are not recorded separately.

HM Passport Office

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her long-term plans are for staffing levels at HM Passport Office; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office keeps staffing levels under review as part of annual business planning.
	We will consider long-term requirements in the light of the reviews which the Home Secretary has commissioned on efficiency and forecasting.

HM Passport Office: Telephone Services

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department has gathered on opinions of members of the public of the recorded voice facility offered when they ring regional passport offices on urgent business.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office routinely carries out research to obtain customers' views on a range of its services. No specific research has been undertaken on the recorded voice facility on its customer service lines.

Human Trafficking: Victim Support Schemes

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the nationality and gender of each suspected victim of trafficking referred to the Trafficking Victim Support Scheme operated by the Salvation Army was in June 2014 in which (a) region and (b) county each of the suspected victims was found; which agency referred each person to the scheme; in which town the shelter was to which they were placed for the relevant period; and what contact it had with each victim after they exit the shelter to ensure they are not re-trafficked.

Karen Bradley: In June 2014, there were 97 referrals to the Government-funded support service for adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales administered by the Salvation Army, of which, 59 were female victims, 37 were male victims and one was a transgender victim. In the interests of victim safety, only the region in which the victim was encountered is provided, and not the county, parliamentary constituency or details of the specific shelters at which victims are supported. The scope of the victim care contract does not extend (a) beyond the date on which a victim exits government funded support or (b) to the safety and protection of victims post the recovery and reflection period. The Salvation Army therefore does not routinely maintain contact with victims outside the scope of the victim care contract.
	Details are provided in the table below.
	
		
			 Nationality Gender Region Agency type 
			 Albanian Male South East Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South NGO 
			 Albanian Female South East Self Referral 
			 Albanian Female South Home Office 
			 Albanian Female North East Other 
			 Albanian Female North East Other 
			 Albanian Female South East Home Office 
			 Albanian Female East Midlands Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Wales Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Wales Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South Home Office 
			 Albanian Female North West Self Referral 
			 Albanian Female North West Self Referral 
		
	
	
		
			 Albanian Female South Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Bangladeshi Male Unknown Home Office 
			 Bhutan Female North East Home Office 
			 Cameroon Male Unknown Home Office 
			 Chinese Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Chinese Female West Midlands Police 
			 Chinese Male South East Health Services 
			 Chinese Female North West NGO 
			 Chinese Male South Health Services 
			 Czech Male North West NGO 
			 Czech Male Wales Police 
			 Czech Female Yorkshire Local Authority 
			 Czech Republic Male Yorkshire NGO 
			 DRC Female North East Home Office 
			 English Male East Police 
			 English Female South Police 
			 Eritrean Male Not Known Home Office 
			 Eritrean Female South Police 
			 Ethiopian Female Wales Home Office 
			 Ghanaian Female South Self Referral 
			 Ghanaian Male Unknown Self Referral 
			 Guinea Female West Midlands Home Office 
			 Hungarian Male North West Police 
			 Hungarian Male North West Police 
			 Hungarian Male North West Police 
			 Indian Female East NGO 
			 Indian Female South East Home Office 
			 Irish Male South East Police 
			 Kenyan Female South Other 
			 Kenyan Female South West Home Office 
			 Liberian Female South East Legal Representative 
			 Lithuanian Male Unknown Self Referral 
			 Lithuanian Female Yorkshire Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Police 
			 Malawian Female Yorkshire Health Services 
			 Mongolian Female South Home Office 
			 Nigeria Female South Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female North West Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South Self Referral 
			 Nigerian Female South East Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South East NGO 
			 Nigerian Female South Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South East NGO 
			 Nigerian Female South East Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female Wales Home Office 
			 Nigerian Male South Home Office 
			 Pakistani Female North West Home Office 
			 Polish Male South East Police 
			 Polish Male South Self Referral 
			 Polish Male South NGO 
			 Romanian Male South Police 
			 Romanian Male South East Police 
			 Romanian Male South Police 
			 Romanian Female Yorkshire NGO 
			 Romanian Female South East Other 
			 Romanian Male South East Police 
		
	
	
		
			 Russian/Ukrainian Female South NGO 
			 Sir Lankan Female Unknown Self Referral 
			 Slovakian Female East Midlands Local Authority 
			 Slovakian Male East Police 
			 Slovakian Male East Police 
			 Slovakian Female East GLA 
			 Slovakian Male East GLA 
			 South African Male South Home Office 
			 Thai Trans-gender Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Ugandan Female Unknown NGO 
			 Ugandan Female South East Home Office 
			 Ugandan Female South Home Office 
			 Ugandan Female South Home Office 
			 Ugandan Female South Self Referral 
			 Vietnamese Female Unknown Self Referral 
			 Vietnamese Female East Midlands Home Office 
			 Vietnamese Male South Police 
			 Vietnamese Female South Home Office 
			 Zimbabwean Female South East Self Referral

Human Trafficking: Victim Support Schemes

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 9 April 2014, Official Report, column 274W, on human trafficking: victim support schemes, how many of those referred were (a) men and (b) women, by country; what steps are taken to ensure that after the victim exits the shelter into which they have been placed by the Salvation Army they are not retrafficked or enter contact with their former traffickers; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  with reference to the answers of 9 April 2014, Official Report, column 274WS, and 14 January 2014, Official Report, column 481W, on human trafficking: victim support schemes, for what reason information on each individual and on their gender and location was not given in the former answer; and if she will provide that information in response to future parliamentary questions seeking equivalent information.

Karen Bradley: In March 2014, there were 126 referrals to the Government-funded support service for adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales administered by the Salvation Army, of which 78 were female victims and 48 were male victims. In the interests of victim safety, only the region in which the victim was encountered is provided, and not the county, parliamentary constituency or details of the specific shelters at which victims are supported. The scope of the victim care contract does not extend (a) beyond the date on which a victim exits government-funded support or (b) to the safety and protection of victims post the recovery and reflection period. The Salvation Army therefore does not routinely maintain contact with victims outside the scope of the victim care contract.
	The breakdown of information requested is as follows and will be provided in response to future parliamentary questions seeking equivalent information.
	
		
			 Nationality Male Region Agency type 
			 Albanian Female North East Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South East Home Office 
		
	
	
		
			 Albanian Female South Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire NGO 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Not Known Other 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Albanian Female West Midlands Police 
			 Albanian Female West Midlands Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South Home Office 
			 Albanian Female West Midlands Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South Home Office 
			 Albanian Female West Midlands Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire Local Authority 
			 Albanian Female South Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Not Known Home Office 
			 Albanian Female North West Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South East Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South East Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South NGO 
			 Albanian Female Wales NGO 
			 Albanian Female South East Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South East Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South East Home Office 
			 Bangladeshi Male South Home Office 
			 Bangladeshi Male Wales Police 
			 Bangladeshi Male South East Home Office 
			 Bolivian Male South East Other 
			 Botswana Female South East Self-referral 
			 British Female South Police 
			 British Female South West Police 
			 Chinese Female South East Home Office 
			 Chinese Female Yorkshire NGO 
			 Czech Male South West Police 
			 Czech Male South West Police 
			 Czech Male Yorkshire Police 
			 Czech Male Yorkshire Police 
			 Czech Female Yorkshire Police 
			 Czech Male West Midlands Home Office 
			 Czech Female South East UKHTC 
			 Czech Female Yorkshire NGO 
			 Eritrean Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Gambian Female West Midlands NGO 
			 Ghanaian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Ghanaian Female South East NGO 
			 Hungarian Female West Midlands Police 
			 Hungarian Female North West Police 
			 Hungarian Female North West Police 
			 Hungarian Male Yorkshire NGO 
			 Hungarian Male Yorkshire NGO 
			 Hungarian Male Yorkshire NGO 
			 Hungarian Male East Midlands Police 
			 Hungarian Female East Midlands Police 
			 Jamaican Female South NGO 
			 Kenyan Female North East Home Office 
			 Kosovan Female South East Home Office 
			 Latvian Male South East Other Government Agency 
			 Lithuanian Female East Midlands NGO 
			 Lithuanian Male Yorkshire Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South Police 
			 Lithuanian Female South West Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South West Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South West Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South West Police 
		
	
	
		
			 Lithuanian Female South West Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Health Services 
			 Malawian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Malawian Female Yorkshire Legal Representative 
			 Mali Female Wales Local Authority 
			 Moroccan Female South East Other 
			 Nigerian Female Not Known Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female North East Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South East Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female North West Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South East Legal Representative 
			 Nigerian Female South East Self Referral 
			 Nigerian Female South East Home Office 
			 Not known Male South East Home Office 
			 Pakistani Male West Midlands Self-referral 
			 Pakistani Male South East Home Office 
			 Polish Male South Probation 
			 Polish Male West Midlands Other 
			 Polish Male East Midlands NGO 
			 Polish Male South West Self Referral 
			 Portuguese Female  NGO 
			 Portuguese Female Wales Police 
			 Portuguese Male Wales Police 
			 Romanian Female North West Police 
			 Romanian Female South Self-referral 
			 Romanian Female South Police 
			 Romanian Female South Police 
			 Romanian Male South West Police 
			 Romanian Female South West Police 
			 Romanian Female North West Police 
			 Romanian Male South Police 
			 Romanian Male South Police 
			 Romanian Male South Police 
			 Romanian Male South Police 
			 Romanian Male South Police 
			 Romanian Male Yorkshire Police 
			 Romanian Female West Midlands Police 
			 Romanian Male North West Police 
			 Rwandan Female South Legal Representative 
			 Saudi Arabia Male South East Home Office 
			 Sierra Leonean Male Yorkshire NGO 
			 Slovakian Female North East Police 
			 Slovakian Female East Midlands Police 
			 Slovakian Male East Midlands Police 
			 Slovakian Male South East Police 
			 Ugandan Female South East NGO 
			 Ugandan Female South Home Office 
			 Ugandan Male Wales Home Office 
			 Ugandan Male South East Self-referral 
			 Ugandan Male South West Other 
			 Vietnamese Male North East Home Office 
			 Vietnamese Male South Home Office 
			 Vietnamese Male Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Vietnamese Male South East NGO 
			 Vietnamese Male South East Legal Representative 
			 Zimbabwean Female Yorkshire Legal Representative 
			 Zimbabwean Female Yorkshire Legal Representative

Illegal Immigrants

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of (a) the number of immigrants in the UK without legitimate immigration status and (b) the three most common countries from which such people originate.

Karen Bradley: Government estimates on the number of illegal migrants currently in the UK are not available. Given the clandestine nature of illegal migrants, any estimation is extremely difficult and there would be considerable uncertainty around any estimates.

Immigrants: Children

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for Education on guidance to be issued to paediatricians on age assessments of unaccompanied migrant children;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the proposed guidance from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for paediatricians on cases of age assessment of unaccompanied migrant children.

Karen Bradley: In conjunction with officials from the Department for Education and the Department of Health, Home Office officials are currently considering the proposals submitted by the Royal College, taking into account commercial, funding and value for money considerations.

Immigrants: Detainees

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Immigration Removal Centre detainees have (a) escaped from detention, (b) escaped while being escorted and (c) attempted to escape each IRC in the last four years; and how many such people are still at large.

Karen Bradley: Escapes from immigration removal centres and while under escort are a subset of published statistics. The following table shows absconds for the financial years 2010-11 to 2013-14.
	Information on attempted escapes is not held centrally and could be provided only by examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	11 of those individuals recorded as escaped 2010-11 to 2013-14 have not been located.
	The police are informed immediately when a detainee has escaped and the individual's details are recorded on the Police National Computer should the individual be apprehended at a later date.
	
		
			 People leaving detention by place of last detention, absconded 2010-11 to 2013-14 (financial year)1, 2 
			  Absconded (number) 
			 2010-11  
			 Absconded from centre 5 
			 Absconded from escorts 3 
			 Total 8 
			   
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12  
			 Absconded from centre 3 
			 Absconded from escorts 3 
			 Total 6 
			   
			 2012-13  
			 Absconded from centre 4 
			 Absconded from escorts 1 
			 Total 5 
			   
			 2013-14  
			 Absconded from centre 0 
			 Absconded from escorts 0 
			 Total 0 
			 1 Data from 2011-12 onwards are provisional. 2 Total detainees are those detained in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers and exclude those in police cells, Prison Service establishments, short-term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours), and those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants.

Immigrants: Detainees

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times an escaped person has been categorised as a high harm person and the senior management team believe there is a high risk of reputational damage to the Home Office as set out in the Home Office Guidance on Escaped Detainees at immigration removal centres in the last four years.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office does not routinely categorise immigration detainees against a scale of harm. They are instead subject to individual risk assessment linked to their suitability for placement in an immigration removal centre (IRC) which is based on a number of different factors. Where an escape or attempted escape from an IRC takes place, Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) immigration specialist teams will assist in the investigation where the individual is assessed to be a “high harm” person, or where the senior management team believe there is a high risk of reputational damage to the Home Office.
	In the last four years the CFI team has conducted two investigations relating to escapes of individuals from escort who were assessed to fit the investigation criteria. There have not been any cases of escapes from an IRC which have warranted the involvement of the CFI.
	This data is management information and does not form part of published statistics and is not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications. It is provisional and subject to change.

Immigration

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that the Government regulates commercial companies providing evidence required in immigration applications and that such companies are not open to corruption.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has appointed an external auditor, Moore Stephens LLP, to provide assurance of the enhanced processes it has introduced for the Secure English Language Test providers, as well as of the controls built into Home Office contractual and licence arrangements related to testing services upon which immigration, citizenship or other entitlements rely.

Immigration

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the Exchequer has been of the asylum and immigration system once fee income has been deducted in each of the last seven years.

Karen Bradley: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given on 30 June 2014, Official Report, column 375W.

Knives: Greater London

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife-related crimes were recorded in (a) London, (b) Tower Hamlets and (c) Bethnal Green and Bow constituency in the last five years.

Norman Baker: Data for selected offences involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument are collected by the Home Office at police force area level only, so data are not available for Tower Hamlets or Bethnal Green and Bow constituency. Data for these selected offences are in the given table for the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police force areas for 2008-09 to 2012-13.
	The offences covered are attempted murder, assault with injury, assault with intent to cause serious harm, robbery, threats to kill, sexual assault, rape and homicide. Figures for 2013-14 will be published by the Office for National Statistics on 17 July 2014.
	
		
			 Knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by the Metropolitan and City of London police for selected offences in London,1 2008-09 to 2012-13 
			  Total selected offences2 (number) 
			 2008-09 12,335 
			 2009-10 12,620 
			 2010-11 13,356 
			 2011-12 14,184 
			 2012-13 11,384 
			 1 Police recorded knife and sharp instrument offences data are submitted via an additional special collection. Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instrument. 2 Selected offences covered are attempted murder, assault with injury, assault with intent to cause serious harm, robbery, threats to kill, sexual assault and rape and homicide. Homicide data is taken from the Home Office Homicide Index.

London Marathon

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of people who have entered the UK in each of the last five years to participate in the London marathons and who remain in the country illegally; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: holding answer 10 July 2014
	No estimate has been made of the number of individuals who entered the UK specifically to compete in the London marathon and have overstayed.

Ministers: Official Cars

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many journeys Ministers of her Department have made using the Government Car Service; and how many such journeys were for the transportation of a red box.

Karen Bradley: The information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Paralympic Games 2012

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of people who came to the UK to participate in the 2012 Paralympic Games who remain in the country illegally; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: holding answer 10 July 2014
	No estimate was made of those who overstayed in the UK after entering to compete in the Paralympic Games.

Passports

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on courier services for passports outside the DX contract since 1 January 2014.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office has incurred no costs outside contractual arrangements with DX since 1 January.

Passports

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target she has set for the time in which applicants should receive a call back from the Passport Office when making enquiries about applications.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office's current guideline for returning calls is to do so within 48 hours. Her Majesty's Passport Office gives priority to those with the most immediate travel plans.

Passports

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of passport renewal applications have been upgraded from a standard application to the premium service in each of the last six months.

James Brokenshire: Historical data on the number of upgrades from a standard application to a premium service is not collated centrally.

Passports

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of people who cancelled holidays in 2014 due to delays in passport applications.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office does not collect this data.

Policy

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what level her Department values the reduction of risk of death per fatal casualty prevented; and if she will give an example of policy intervention where this evaluation was made.

Norman Baker: In order to estimate the cost of a homicide, the Home Office uses the value of a prevented fatality, which is estimated by the Department for Transport. The Home Office has produced three reports on the economic and social costs of crime, which contain the Department’s estimates of the value of preventing a fatality in relation to a homicide. The Home Office first estimated the economic and social costs of crime in 2000:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hors217.pdf
	The Home Office last comprehensively updated the costs of crime estimates in 2005:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100413151441/http:/www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr3005.pdf
	The Home Office’s 2011 publication provides its most recent revision to the unit costs of crime figures:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/97813/IOM-phase2-costs-multipliers.pdf
	The costs within the costs of crime report are used to inform policy development. For example, the rationale in the impact assessment for Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme refers to the average and total cost of homicides related to domestic violence and abuse:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/260899/DVDS_IA.pdf

Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many establishments deregistered for the purposes of carrying out marriages in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.

Karen Bradley: The General Register Office (GRO) for England and Wales is responsible for maintaining the list of religious buildings registered for marriage.
	The number of cancellations made for registered buildings for 2012 was 211, 2013 was 180, and for 2014 (up to 25 June) is 106.

Riot Control Weapons

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her timetable is for the decision on the use of police water cannon in Great Britain.

Damian Green: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 12 May 2014, Official Report, column 412W.

UK Visas and Immigration

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual salary of a UK Visas and Immigration asylum caseworker is; and how many asylum decisions such a caseworker makes on average in one year.

Karen Bradley: There are two grades of Asylum caseworkers in UKVI, EO decision makers and HEO senior decision makers.
	The pay scales for these caseworkers are:
	EO National—£22,770 to £26,209
	EO London—£26,242 to £30,181
	HEO National—£27,150 to 32,460
	HEO London—£30,388 to £36,922
	We are unable to provide average salary data for UKVI caseworkers.
	This year we expect to employ an average of 409 caseworkers. Caseworkers are expected to conduct interviews, deal with decisions and take detained fast track appeals. They are expected to work on 225 of these in various combinations in a year.

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the appropriateness of the current number of female officers in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to ensure that women in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre on suicide watch are only supervised by female officers;
	(3)  if she will take steps to ensure that women detained in Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre can obtain feminine hygiene products without contact with male guards.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office and its service providers comply with all relevant employment legislation. The service provider for Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre, Serco, is required under their contract to employ sufficient female officers to enable appropriate searching and security arrangements for female detainees. Yarl's Wood IRC has 52% male detainee custody officers and 48% female.
	Assessment Care in Detention and Teamwork (ACDT) is the system used for monitoring individuals considered to be at risk of self harm and operates within the broader context of decency, safety, and the concept of a healthy centre.
	ACDT requires centre managers to appoint trained assessors and named case managers in order to provide individualised care to detainees based on their particular needs. A female assessor or case manager should be appointed where it is appropriate but that is not a requirement.
	Feminine hygiene items are freely available to residents. Access to these is not monitored by staff.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliamentary Procedure: Publications

Caroline Lucas: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will take steps to make the latest edition of Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice available free of charge online.

John Thurso: Erskine May’s “Parliamentary Practice” is published by Butterworths under an exclusive licence granted by the trustees of the May Memorial Fund, registered charity 306057, who own the copyright to the work. I understand that the trustees are considering under what financial arrangements it might be practicable to make a digital version of Erskine May available online.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

ICT

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how many mobile telephones, BlackBerrys and laptops were lost by the National Audit Office in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

Edward Leigh: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 January to December 2013 (12 months) 
			  Number 
			 Stolen laptops 1 
			 Lost laptops 1 
			 Stolen mobile phones/BlackBerrys 0 
			 Lost mobile phones/BlackBerrys 5 
		
	
	
		
			 January to June 2014 (six months) 
			  Number 
			 Stolen laptops 1 
			 Lost laptops 0 
			 Stolen mobile phones/BlackBerrys 0 
			 Lost mobile phones/BlackBerrys 0 
		
	
	When laptops or mobile phones/BlackBerrys are lost or stolen, the NAO follows these up in accordance with the guidance in the Government’s Security Policy Framework.

Procurement

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how much and what proportion of the National Audit Office's budget was spent on activities which were contracted out in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14; and how much and what proportion of the National Audit Office's budget he expects to be contracted out in 2014-15.

Edward Leigh: The majority of the NAO’s contracted work planned in 2014-15 is in financial audit, where additional audit resources are provided by some half-a-dozen private audit firms. The NAO’s partners are chosen through a rigorous process, in line with EU rules on public sector procurement, to ensure value for money. Financial audit work comprises some 55% of the NAO’s total activity and around 20% of the NAO’s financial audit work is outsourced.
	The use of private firms to carry out some audits is included in the NAO’s Strategy, approved by the Public Accounts Commission. The current mix ensures that the NAO maintains the breadth of insight into Departments which the C&AG derives on behalf of Parliament from having NAO staff undertake financial audits directly, but also has sufficient exposure to the framework partners so as to benchmark the NAO against the private sector and import best practice. The NAO also uses outsourcing arrangements in its value-for-money or investigations work where specialist skills are required.
	
		
			 Percentage of NAO Activities contracted out 
			  Actual Estimate 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 Professional services brought in (£ million) 17,553 13,678 13,238 11,940 10,409 10,100 
			 Total voted gross expenditure (Audit and Assurance) (£ million) 94,600 92,600 87,700 89,000 84,600 83,000 
			 % of activities contracted out 19 15 15 13 12 12 
		
	
	Total voted gross expenditure (Audit and Assurance) excludes the following exceptional expenditure:
	Restructuring of the NAO (£4.2 million in 2013–14)
	Refurbishment of the NAO building (£16.2 million in 2009–10)
	Temporary accommodation costs (£5.9 million in 2009–10).

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Attorney-General how many creditors remained unpaid by his Department as at 1 June 2014; and of those how many have been waiting for (a) 45, (b) 60, (c) 75 and (d) more than 75 days.

Oliver Heald: The following table shows the number of Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) invoices that were potentially outstanding to suppliers from the date that an invoice was received on 1 June. This table includes all invoices including those that cannot yet be authorised as the invoice was disputed or where further information was requested from the supplier.
	The majority of TSol supplier invoices relate to disbursement spending on cases and in particular work undertaken by counsel.
	
		
			 TSol1 46-60 days 61-75 days 76 days or more 
			 Number of suppliers 138 31 34 
			 1 Tsol data also includes Attorney General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. 
		
	
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) records a creditor when a valid invoice is received by the CPS’ payment centre and the following table shows the total number of creditors for any amount that remained unpaid on 1 June 2014.
	
		
			 CPS 46-60 days 61-75 days 76 days or more 
			 Number of creditors 6 3 12 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of creditors that remained unpaid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on 1 June 2014 for (a) 45, (b) 60, (c) 76 days and over.
	
		
			 SFO 46-60 days 61-75 days 76 days or more 
			 Number of creditors 6 1 6

Ministers: Official Cars

Lyn Brown: To ask the Attorney-General how many journeys Ministers of the Law Officers' Departments have made using the Government Car Service; and how many such journeys were for the transportation of a red box.

Oliver Heald: The Law Officers have the use of one day and one evening car provided by the Government Car Service. The Attorney-General's Office do not keep a record of the number of car journeys undertaken by the Law Officers, or of the number of journeys made specifically for transporting a red box.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage farmers to extend the seasonal production of fresh fruit and vegetables.

George Eustice: DEFRA supports increasing the seasonal production of fruit and vegetables through working with the sector, investing in new technology and research, and our sponsorship of the Horticulture Innovation Partnership.
	Since the recommendations by the Fruit and Vegetable Taskforce in 2010, the Government and industry have worked jointly to overcome barriers towards increasing the amount of indigenous fruit and vegetables produced. This has been despite the poor weather of 2012 and 2013.

Bees

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the reasons for the decline in the bee population; what steps he is taking to tackle such a decline; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a summary of his Department’s chief scientific adviser’s latest analysis of the decline in the bee population.

Dan Rogerson: Changes in our bee and pollinator populations are due to a range of environmental pressures, including intensification of land use and loss of good quality habitat; pests and diseases; invasive species; use of pesticides; and climate change.
	In 2013, DEFRA’s chief scientific adviser, Professor Ian Boyd, commissioned a report on the “Status and Value of Pollinators and Pollination Services” to review the current evidence on the impact of environmental pressures on pollinators. A copy of this report will be placed in the House Library. We have just begun a two-year project to develop a framework and test methods for monitoring pollinator abundance.
	In the autumn we will publish our National Pollinator Strategy, which includes a series of policy actions to safeguard pollinators. In the meanwhile, we will continue to raise public awareness through the launch this July of our call to action, “Bees’ Needs: Food and a Home”. This is a simple message for all land managers on the essential needs of pollinators and how to fulfil them.
	We want to see a thriving bee and pollinator population in the UK, to enhance biodiversity and support our food production.

Common Agricultural Policy

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of 7 July 2014, Official Report, columns 127-31, on common agricultural policy, where the 10 centres for digital assistance for farmers will be located.

George Eustice: There will be three trial Digital Support Centres (DSCs) for specific invited applicants to test the service which will be run over the summer. These will be based in Cumbria and in Devon. Further DSCs will become available in the autumn to support farmers across England as more farmers from other areas are invited to register. The RPA is working now to identify the most appropriate locations for the DSCs to support this staged roll out. This analysis will include likely demand alongside information we have on broadband not-spots and areas where trusted intermediaries are operating. It is anticipated that there will be more than 10 DSCs available as demand grows.

Environment Agency

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed by the Environment Agency in a full-time capacity in each month since June 2010.

Dan Rogerson: The table shows the total full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed by the Environment Agency from 30 June 2010 to 30 June 2014.
	The numbers fell by 1,070 on 1 April 2013 as a result of the creation of Natural Resources Wales, which absorbed Environment Agency Wales staff.
	The numbers include those staff directly employed on Environment Agency contracts of employment, either permanent or fixed term. The numbers do not include Employment Agency Staff, Consultants or Contractors.
	The figure for January 2014, differs from that included in the reply given on 24 February 2014, Official Report, columns 91-92W, to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle), where the figure included Employment Agency Staff, Consultants and Contractors staff. The figure given in this reply does not.
	
		
			 Total full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed by the Environment Agency from 30 June 2010 to 30 June 2014 
			  Number 
			 June 2010 12,024 
		
	
	
		
			 July 2010 11,950 
			 August 2010 11,873 
			 September 2010 11,770 
			 October 2010 11,679 
			 November 2010 11,624 
			 December 2010 11,568 
			 January 2011 11,538 
			 February 2011 11,415 
			 March 2011 11,194 
			 April 2011 10,891 
			 May 2011 10,830 
			 June 2011 10,802 
			 July 2011 10,757 
			 August 2011 10,744 
			 September 2011 10,761 
			 October 2011 10,779 
			 November 2011 10,865 
			 December 2011 10,871 
			 January 2012 10,924 
			 February 2012 10,949 
			 March 2012 10,984 
			 April 2012 11,085 
			 May 2012 11,123 
			 June 2012 11,241 
			 July 2012 11,314 
			 August 2012 11,364 
			 September 2012 11,399 
			 0ctober 2012 11,470 
			 November 2012 11,538 
			 December 2012 11,581 
			 January 2013 11,688 
			 February 2013 11,741 
			 March 20l3 11,765 
			 April 2013 10,695 
			 May 2013 10,716 
			 June 2013 10,799 
			 July 2013 10,830 
			 August 2013 10,834 
			 September 2013 10,842 
			 October 2013 10,817 
			 November 2013 10,657 
			 December 2013 10,637 
			 January 2014 10,590 
			 February 2014 10,535 
			 March 2014 10,466 
			 April 2014 10,235 
			 May 2014 10,187 
			 June 2014 10,147

EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his officials consulted their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive in preparation for the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 16 and 17 June 2014.

George Eustice: DEFRA's normal practice is to consult the devolved Administrations in preparation for all Agriculture and Fisheries Council meetings. In this case the Northern Ireland Executive was consulted in advance on the briefing for all of the main agenda items.
	The Northern Ireland Executive had the opportunity to see all of the briefing in advance, and their representative was present at the pre-council briefing meetings.

Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme: North West

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding was awarded under the Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme to (a) Westmorland and Lonsdale, (b) Cumbria and (c) North West England; and what the (i) type and (ii) purpose was of the funding provided in each such area.

Dan Rogerson: Three rounds have been run since the scheme was announced in November 2011 and grant funding has been awarded as follows:
	(a) Westmorland and Lonsdale—29 projects awarded a total of £232,355;
	(b) Cumbria—224 projects awarded a total of £2,256,444;
	(c) North west England—739 projects awarded a total of £7,007,954.
	The scheme provides small capital grants between £2,500 and £35,000 to farmers, foresters and horticultural businesses to improve their competitiveness. The scheme aims to help businesses become more profitable and resilient, while reducing the impact of farming on the environment, by using resources more efficiently. Funding is awarded to individual projects; as such, the purpose of the funding in each area will vary from project to project.

Food Supply Networks Review

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2014, Official Report, column 175W, on Food Supply Networks Review, how many times he has met Professor Chris Elliott since March 2014.

George Eustice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has met with Professor Chris Elliott twice since March 2014.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Dan Rogerson: The Department does not hold the information requested.

Marine Protected Areas

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the total land mass of the UK was classified as a marine protected area or a marine conservation area in each of the last 10 years.

George Eustice: The specific year-by-year statistics requested are not routinely calculated for marine protected areas; 9.4% of the UK’s seas are currently designated as marine protected areas.

Ministers: Official Cars

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many journeys Ministers of his Department have made using the Government Car Service; and how many such journeys were for the transportation of a red box.

Dan Rogerson: The information could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Parks: Pest Control

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on reducing vermin levels in public parks.

Dan Rogerson: DEFRA does not provide specific advice on reducing vermin levels in public parks. However, the usual good principles of wildlife management apply. Namely, to remove or reduce, as far as is practicable, the factors that attract vermin: access to food, water and shelter. If further action is necessary, then the services of properly trained pest controllers should be employed.

Rivers

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many English rivers he assesses are of good ecological status.

Dan Rogerson: The 2013 Water Framework Directive (WFD) classification results for England report that 1,017 rivers are assessed as being of, or having potential for, good ecological status. This is 21% of assessed river water bodies. These are the most recent classification results available for Cycle 1 of the WFD planning cycle (2009 to 2015).

Seas and Oceans

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the economic cost of the degradation of natural capital in the UK's marine environment.

George Eustice: The UK’s Marine Strategy Part One assessed the cost of degradation of the UK’s marine environment:
	Marine strategy part one: UK initial assessment and good environmental status - Publications - GOV.UK
	It estimated benefits forgone in a range of £5 million to £50.6 million from the degradation of marine assets, although this was only a partial estimate. The Natural Capital Committee has already considered how natural capital concepts can be applied to the marine environment and DEFRA is considering its advice.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the UK's seabed is protected from the fishing practice of bottom trawling.

George Eustice: A single figure would not give an accurate picture of the area of the UK’s seabed that is protected from the practice of bottom trawling. This is due to the various fishing method restrictions used, including full spatial closures, seasonal closures and those based on the size of fishing vessels. Additionally, as DEFRA is only responsible for fisheries management for parts of the UK, with Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities leading in the 0-6 nautical miles area, this data is not held in one place.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the seabed within the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone is designated as marine protected areas; and what proportion of such areas exclude the fishing practice of bottom trawling.

George Eustice: Around 9.4% of the UK continental shelf, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Part V, Article 76, is designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This area includes all of the UK Exclusive Economic Zone.
	The closure of fisheries in MPAs located in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for their respective Administrations. Therefore, information on the proportion of such areas in the UK is not readily available. As part of DEFRA’s revised approach to fisheries management, 17 new byelaws have been introduced to protect vulnerable habitats from damaging bottom trawling activities in MPAs. Details of these byelaws, including the boundaries of closed areas, are available at:
	Cornwall Closed Area European Marine Site:
	http://www.cornwall-ifca.gov.uk/new_byelaw
	Devon and Severn mobile gear protection byelaw:
	http://www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk/News
	Eastern European Marine Site byelaw:
	http://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137&Itemid=202
	Isles of Scilly European Marine Site byelaw:
	http://www.scillyifca.gov.uk/European_Marine_Sites
	Kent and Essex Bottom towed gear byelaw:
	http://www.kentandessex-ifca.gov.uk/i-want-to-find-out-about/regulations/keifca-byelaws/keifca-district-byelaws/
	North Eastern Humber Estuary European Marine Site byelaw:
	http://www.ne-ifca.gov.uk/legislation-and-byelaws/byelaw-regulations/
	North Eastern Flamborough Head byelaw:
	http://www.ne-ifca.gov.uk/legislation-and-byelaws/byelaw-regulations/
	North Western European Marine Site byelaw (named byelaw 6):
	http://www.nw-ifca.gov.uk/
	Northumberland mobile gear byelaw:
	http://www.nifca.gov.uk/byelaws/new-ems-byelaw/
	Northumberland Seagrass protection byelaw:
	http://www.nifca.gov.uk/byelaws/new-ems-byelaw/
	Southern Seagrass protection byelaw:
	http://www.southern-ifca.gov.uk/
	Southern Bottom towed gear byelaw:
	http://www.southern-ifca.gov.uk/
	Sussex Prohibition of fishing byelaw:
	http://www.sussex-ifca.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=143&Itemid=205
	Four new MMO byelaws linked below:
	http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/protecting/conservation/ems-byelaws.htm

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the potential economic benefits of an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas in UK waters.

George Eustice: The Impact Assessment for the designation of the first tranche of marine conservation zones assessed the economic benefits of marine protected areas (MPAs). Marine protected areas are expected to result in increases in ecosystem services including provisioning (i.e. increased fish numbers), regulating (i.e. climate regulation), cultural and recreational services. Overall, networks are likely to have additional benefits, such as an increase in biological resilience to adapt to changed conditions. While it is not possible to fully monetise the economic benefits of MPAs the Government is continually reviewing and developing the evidence base in this area with a wide range of interested parties.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Dan Rogerson: This information is not held centrally and to gather it would incur disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to meet his Belgian counterpart to discuss the procurement of F-35 joint striker fighters by that country.

Philip Dunne: The Joint Strike Fighter is a collaborative Programme, and the UK is one of Nine Partner Nations. The US Government leads on all aspects of Joint Strike Fighter Foreign Military Sales. The UK has no plans to discuss the procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with Belgium.

Army Expenditure

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received regarding reductions in expenditure on the Army.

Mark Francois: I regularly receive representations from right hon. and hon. Members and others on a range of issues concerning the Army.

Anti-Malarial Prophylaxis

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on prescribing anti-malarial prophylaxis to members of the armed forces serving overseas.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence follows the advice of Public Health England’s Advisory Committee for Malaria Prevention in providing appropriately tested and effective methods of chemo-prophylaxis to service personnel who are deploying to areas of the world where there is a risk of contracting malaria. The exact choice of drug depends on a number of factors, including the region the individual is deploying to, the health of the individual and any past history of side effects.

Armed Forces: Complaints

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service complaints were filed in the last five years; and how many such complaints related to allegations of bullying.

Anna Soubry: Figures on the number of complaints made by service personnel in the last five years are published in the Service Complaints Commissioner’s (SCC) Annual Reports. The full reports are presented annually to the House and are also located at the following website:
	http://armedforcescomplaints.independent.gov.uk/newsandpublications.htm
	The figures available for complaints made by service personnel about bullying for each year are also published in the Annual Reports. Details of the number of complaints that are heard by a panel (level 3) are also published. All of this information can be found in the relevant pages:
	2013 Annual Report—page 72, appendix 3
	2012 Annual Report—page 62, appendix 3
	2011 Annual Report—page 59, appendix 3
	2010 Annual Report—page 89, appendix 6
	2009 Annual Report—page 36, table 7

Armed Forces: Complaints

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service complaints went to a full board hearing in the last five years.

Anna Soubry: Figures on the number of complaints made by service personnel in the last five years are published in the Service Complaints Commissioner’s (SCC) Annual Reports. The full reports are presented annually to the House and are also located at the following website:
	http://armedforcescomplaints.independent.gov.uk/newsandpublications.htm
	The figures available for complaints made by service personnel about bullying for each year are also published in the Annual Reports. Details of the number of complaints that are heard by a panel (level 3) are also published. All of this information can be found in the relevant pages:
	2013 Annual Report-page 72, appendix 3.
	2012 Annual Report-page 62, appendix 3.
	2011 Annual Report-page 59, appendix 3.
	2010 Annual Report-page 89, appendix 6
	2009 Annual Report-page 36, table 7.

Armed Forces: Complaints

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve the service complaints system.

Anna Soubry: Service personnel deserve to have a fair and effective complaints system. I announced in March that we had been working for some time with Dr Atkins, the Service Complaints Commissioner, on proposals for a more efficient system.
	In her most recent report, Dr Atkins concluded that she was optimistic that a fairer, more effective system has been agreed, and that, once implemented, service personnel will have access to a redress system that they deserve. The Bill introduced in the House of Lords on 5 June 2014 will improve the system to make sure that is what they will get.

Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the £1.2 billion underspend in his Department's equipment budget in 2012-13 arose as a result of programme slippage; what programmes were behind schedule; and for what reason those programmes were behind schedule.

Philip Dunne: Our analysis of the £1.2 billion underspend in 2012-13 in our equipment programme shows that it has been caused by a combination of factors, including better than expected outcomes from contract negotiations; budget being allocated for risks that did not materialise; and the impact of programme slippage against plans.
	A detailed analysis of programme slippage by programme is not currently available, but further work to improve our detailed understanding of variations against planned spending patterns and the implications for project costs in future years is nearing completion.
	Due to our improved financial discipline the Treasury have allowed us to carry over in-year underspends into our future year budgets. The last National Audit Office Major Projects Report showed an 88% reduction in overall project delays.
	We now have the assurance of a stable and well managed budget and confidence that defence programmes are affordable and deliverable.

Intelligence Services

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 95W, on the Intelligence Service, if he will take other steps to ensure that fused and shared data is not used for targeted killing by foreign states outside Afghanistan. [R]

Mark Francois: Intelligence shared with foreign states by the Ministry of Defence is conducted under UK and international law. I am satisfied that the Department's controls on the sharing of intelligence are robust.

Nigeria and Ethiopia

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answers of 12 June 2014, Official Report, column 233W, on Africa, what the current (a) rank, (b) squadron and (c) function is of each member of UK personnel deployed in Nigeria and Ethiopia. [R]

Mark Francois: The disposition of UK service personnel in Nigeria and Ethiopia, as of 7 July 2014, is articulated in tabular form as follows.
	
		
			 Country (a) Ranks (b) Formations (c) Functions 
			 Nigeria 5 x Officer 3 x NCO 1 x Other Rank British High Commission Abuja; British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) Nigeria; Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) Defence Section; BMATT Nigeria; 
			 Ethiopia 2 x Officer 1 x NCO British Embassy Addis Ababa; British Peace and Support Team (Eastern Africa) Defence Section; Advisor and liaison to the African Union and East African Standby Force

Royal Armoured Corps

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future establishment, equipment and role of the Royal Armoured Corps; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: Under the Army 2020 structure, the Royal Armoured Corps will be formed of 10 Regular Regiments made up of three Armoured Regiments, three Armoured Cavalry Regiments and three Light Cavalry Regiments with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment continuing to support public duties and ceremonial commitments; four Reserve Regiments and one independent Regular squadron providing a Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Area, Survey and Reconnaissance capability.
	The overall establishment of the Royal Armoured Corps will be around 6,000.
	The Armoured Regiments will continue in their existing role as direct combat units and will continue to be equipped with the Challenger 2 tank. From 2020, the Close Reconnaissance troop is planned to have the Scout Specialist Vehicle (SV).
	The Armoured Cavalry Regiments will continue to provide a manned reconnaissance and surveillance capability. They will be equipped with Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) and, from 2020, the Scout SV.
	The Light Cavalry Regiments will provide a highly mobile tactical reconnaissance capability in both mounted and dismounted roles, mainly equipped with Jackal and Coyote vehicles.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the Stimson Task Force report on his drone policy; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Mark Francois: There has been no formal assessment of the Stimson Task Force report against the existing policy on the operation of the UK Armed Forces’ Unmanned or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Air Travel

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what occasions each Minister within his Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: This information could be provided only at disproportional cost. Details of ministerial overseas travel and meetings with external organisations are routinely published every quarter and information can be accessed on the Department’s web page via the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dclg-ministerial-data

Buildings

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the duration of his Department's lease at 2 Marsham Street is; and what break clause arrangements there are.

Brandon Lewis: The move to 2 Marsham Street will reduce my Department’s running costs by £9 million a year from 2015-16. Overall, these changes will save the Government £24 million a year.
	The Department does not have a lease for 2 Marsham Street. Our co-location with the Home Office is formalised through an inter-department Memorandum of Terms of Occupation.
	Since 2010, the Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its wider estate through the rationalisation of retained office space and targeted building disposals. This has seen the Department surrender six leasehold office properties through a combination of lease breaks and expiries, generating net savings in the period of around £7 million per annum. The Department has also successfully sub-let surplus space across its leasehold office estate during the same period, reducing the overall property costs by around £6.5 million per annum.
	Building on this success, in 2013-14, we have already secured further savings of £4.6 million by subletting further space in Eland House in London. Most recently, the Department negotiated the early surrender of Eland House and is scheduled to relocate to 2 Marsham Street.
	This illustrates the scope for local government and, indeed, the public sector as a whole to make sensible savings through better property management.
	In June 2013, supporting the Prime Minister’s commitment to support the development of small and medium enterprises, the Department agreed terms with business incubator providers to take vacant space at 2 Rivergate House in Bristol and Bridge House, Guildford. This is an important part of the Government’s drive to assist the start-up and small and medium enterprises business and we are also working with the Government Property Unit on potential Government Space for Growth opportunities in other properties held by DCLG.

Community Infrastructure Levy: Leeds

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Leeds City Council Community Levy.

Nicholas Boles: Leeds City Council are not yet charging the Community Infrastructure Levy. Their proposed levy rates underwent independent examination in June and they now await issue of the Examiner's Report, which is expected in due course.

Community Land Trusts

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of community land trusts as a way of delivering affordable housing.

Kris Hopkins: We are encouraging councils and larger housing associations to identify new community-based partnership members, including community land trusts, who may be able to bring additional community capacity in developing new affordable homes.
	There is particular scope for community land trusts to contribute to affordable homes though neighbourhood planning. We are working with the National Community Land Trusts Network and others to raise awareness of community land trusts with groups who are preparing neighbourhood plans.

Families: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made in turning round families in the Troubled Families programme; how many families in each local authority area have taken advantage of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Kris Hopkins: The Troubled Families programme is making good progress. As at the end of May 2014, local authorities had turned around 52,833 families. As at the end of March 2014, they had identified 111,574 families, and were working with 97,202 of those families.
	My Department regularly publishes this information and the latest breakdown by individual local authority can be found at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/troubled-families-programme-progress-information-and-families-turned-around

Families: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria will be used to assess the performance of the Troubled Families programme; and how this links to the triggering of payment to providers.

Kris Hopkins: In March 2012 the Government published the Financial Framework for the Troubled Families Programme:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11469/2117840.pdf
	This set out the criteria that local authorities should use in identifying families eligible for central funding, and what results they would need to achieve in order to claim the results-based payment.
	My Department has also commissioned an independent evaluation of the programme which is looking at the progress and outcomes local authorities achieve with troubled families across a broader set of issues, and the savings made as a result.

Fire Services

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many front-line firefighters are female; and how many of such firefighters still active in front-line service are over the age of 55 years.

Brandon Lewis: Numbers of firefighters are collected annually from each fire and rescue authority, and this includes profiles by age and by sex. The latest data are shown in the tables.
	These show that in England in March 2013 there were 1,755 female firefighters, and 1,040 firefighters over the age of 55. Separate age profiles for males and females are not currently collected.
	
		
			 Firefighter numbers by rank and sex, England, March 2013 
			 Number 
			  Men Women 
			 Brigade manager 138 4 
			 Area manager 176 6 
			 Group manager 552 13 
			 Station manager 1,453 40 
			 Watch manager 5,111 143 
			 Crew manager 5,782 172 
			 Firefighter 25,822 1,377 
			    
			 Total 39,034 1,755 
		
	
	
		
			 Firefighter numbers by rank and age, England, March 2013 
			 Number 
			  17 to 24 25 to 35 36 to 45 46 to 55 56 to 65 66+ Age not stated 
			 Brigade manager 0 0 29 102 11 0 0 
			 Area manager 0 2 55 120 5 0 0 
			 Group manager 0 7 185 347 26 0 0 
			 Station manager 0 47 534 875 37 0 0 
			 Watch manager 1 353 1,974 2,651 273 1 1 
			 Crew manager 11 1,107 2,607 2,023 202 3 1 
			 Firefighter 1,389 9,222 9,803 6,290 478 4 13 
			         
			 Total 1,401 10,738 15,187 12,408 1,032 8 15 
		
	
	The proportion of firefighters who are women has risen since 2010.

Fire Services: West Midlands

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with West Midlands Fire Authority on staffing patterns in that fire service.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 9 July 2014
	Staffing patterns are entirely the responsibility of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority. I have had no discussions with the authority on this matter.
	The Knight Review ‘Facing the Future’, found huge variations in the way fire and rescue authorities operated and concluded that there were significant opportunities for sensible savings such as through: sharing of senior staff, reforms to flexible staffing and crewing arrangements, better procurement, shared services, collaboration with emergency services and other organisations on service delivery and estates, sickness management, locally led mergers and operational collaborations, new fire-fighting technology, preventative approaches and working with local businesses.

Housing: Construction

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) sites and (b) homes where building is yet to start which have full planning permission.

Nicholas Boles: holding answer 7 July 2014
	In my answers to the right hon. Member of 10 December 2013, Official Report, column 158W and 16 January 2014, Official Report, column 611W, I outlined the myths being propagated on land-banking and observed how these were disproved by hard, empirical evidence from experts. I also noted the inaccurate claims being punted around by HM Opposition, remarked how their policy proposals would actually reduce house building; and explained the steps that the coalition Government has taken to help kick-start stalled sites, from development finance, to section 106 reform, to increasing the incentive for developers to start on site before permission expires.
	The latest figures from Glenigan estimate that the number of dwellings with planning permission that are classified as “on hold or shelved” has steadily fallen thanks to the action we are taking. Conversely, the number of dwellings with planning permission that are moving towards a start has steadily increased, both due to the action we have taken to tackle stalled sites, but also due to the increase in the number of homes being granted planning permission. Indeed, a total of 216,000 permissions were given for new homes in 2013-14.
	A rising number of homes progressing towards a start is a positive indicator of increasing housing construction. The leader of the Opposition, the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband), on 15 January 2014, Official Report, column 846, incorrectly described them as “houses where nothing is happening”. This is incorrect description of the Glenigan statistics and reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of rising planning approvals. It is the ‘on hold/shelved' indicator where nothing is happening.
	The following table illustrates our progress:
	
		
			 Snapshot as of: On hold/shelved Progressing towards start 
			 31 January 2011 79,604 113,566 
			 31 July 2011 82,557 153,379 
			 30 September 2011 90,331 153,543 
			 31 December 2011 87,081 132,633 
			 31 March 2012 81,502 136,686 
			 30 June 2012 75,534 141,044 
			 30 September 2012 70,495 166,105 
			 31 January 2013 64,394 176,246 
			 2 April 2013 61,476 184,987 
			 2 June 2013 60,493 189,882 
			 1 October 2013 59,249 183,650 
			 1 January 2014 55,847 202,912 
			 1 February 2014 54,086 194,681 
			 1 March 2014 53,376 203,098 
			 1 April 2014 51,284 197,288 
			 1 June 2014 50,050 226,328 
			 Note: Dwellings on sites with 10 units or more; excludes sites which have been sold, were due to be sold, or else information not available. 
		
	
	Taken together, these two indicators show that the Government's long-term economic plan is working and turning around the mess and recession left by the Labour Government. Moth-balled sites are springing into action; more homes are being planned; and more homes are being built out.
	Of course, there is more to do—and the measures in the Infrastructure Bill on planning conditions will further cut the time it takes for sites with planning permission to start on site. We also have a series of schemes to increase development finance to both small and large builders, to boost local authority capacity to unlocked stalled sites, and (as outlined in the answer of 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 117W) to support ongoing housing starts.

ICT

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many mobile telephones, BlackBerrys and laptops were lost by his Department in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

Brandon Lewis: The following items were reported lost during 2013 and during 2014 to date:
	
		
			 Item 2013 2014 to date 
			 Mobile telephones 0 0 
			 BlackBerrys 5 3 
			 Laptops 1 0 
		
	
	All departmental IT is fully security encrypted.
	The departmental security unit records and investigates each reported loss from the Department. If appropriate, the police are invited to undertake further inquiries.
	Any BlackBerry reported as lost is immediately and remotely deactivated and the contents deleted. The user account on any laptop reported as lost is immediately and remotely locked.
	There has been no data loss or compromise as a result of these losses.

Landlords: Scotland

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the register of landlords in Scotland in reducing bad practice. [R]

Kris Hopkins: The coalition Government supports a bigger and better private rented sector and is keen to minimise the burden of regulation on the vast majority of good landlords. Excessive red tape would just force up rents and reduce choice and supply for tenants.
	We believe that imposing a national register of landlords would be disproportionate and unfairly penalise good landlords who are fully compliant with their obligations. It would cost an estimated £40 million a year—costs which ultimately would be passed on to tenants in higher rents.
	As an alternative to such regulation, we support the use of voluntary accreditation by local authorities coupled with strong enforcement action to crack down on the small minority of rogue landlords who rent out overcrowded and dilapidated property. Voluntary accreditation helps drive up standards and increase levels of professionalism among landlords.
	We have not formally assessed Scotland’s scheme, but I note that an answer to a parliamentary question in the Scottish Parliament in January 2013 noted that since the scheme was introduced in 2006, it had cost landlords £11 million in fees and a further £5 million in costs to taxpayers, but only 40 landlords had been refused in total over that period out of almost 200,000 landlord registrations. This suggests that such state regulation had not been effective at tackling rogue landlords despite significant costs imposed on the whole rented sector.

Local Government Finance

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average level of local authority debt is per capita.

Brandon Lewis: I have today placed in the Library of the House a table showing, for each local authority in England, the total external debt and the debt per capita as at 31 March 2014. The average debt per capita for all local authorities in England is £1,530.
	The debt figures are collected on the capital payments and receipts (CPR4) provisional out-turn form completed by each local authority in England and published at the following location;
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-capital-expenditure-and-receipts-in-england-2013-to-2014-provisional-outturn-and-2014-to-2015-forecast

Ministers: Official Cars

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many journeys Ministers of his Department have made using the Government Car Service; and how many such journeys were for the transportation of a red box.

Brandon Lewis: The information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Planning Permission

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have introduced an Article Four Direction within all or part of their geographic boundary. [R]

Nicholas Boles: My Department is aware of 168 local authorities who have issued an Article 4 direction which apples to either all or part of their geographic boundary.

Private Rented Housing

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the new Model Tenancy Agreement will be published. [R]

Kris Hopkins: We plan to publish the Model Tenancy Agreement later in the summer.

Private Rented Housing

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the introduction of selective licensing in relevant areas and the level of private-sector rates; and if he will make a statement.

Kris Hopkins: Selective licensing allows local authorities to license all privately rented housing in a designated area that suffers from low housing demand and/or significant antisocial behaviour. The Department does not routinely collect information on the number or extent of licensing schemes although local authorities were asked on a one-off voluntary basis to provide this information last year. 194 local authorities responded, of which, 14 had introduced licensing. While an assessment of the impact of licensing on private sector rents has not been undertaken, we believe that licensing puts unnecessary extra costs on good landlords, thereby pushing up rents and reduces choice.

Private Rented Housing

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department plans to publish the conclusions of its review of property conditions in the private rented sector; and whether his Department plans to restrict borough-wide selective licensing schemes.

Kris Hopkins: We plan to publish an analysis of the replies and proposed next steps, including any decision that may be made on restrictions of borough-wide licensing schemes, in the summer.

Rented Housing

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department intends to publish the results of the review of residential property conditions. [R]

Kris Hopkins: DCLG published a discussion document earlier this year, which invited views on what more could be done to improve property conditions in the private rented sector and tackle rogue landlords. Responses are now being considered and we will publish our response along with a summary of the views submitted later this summer.

Second Homes: Westmorland

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many second homes there were in each parish in Westmorland and Lonsdale on the most recent date for which data is available.

Brandon Lewis: This information is not held centrally.

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Brandon Lewis: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Brandon Lewis: There are currently 26 approved professions across the Civil Service. The majority of development courses available to support the continuous professional development of those concerned are provided through the central training portal, Civil Service Learning. This means all available course costs are centrally negotiated, ensuring economies of scale and best value for Government. The individual cost of these courses range in price depending on profession and the training require and it would involve disproportionate cost to provide the detailed information requested.

Travellers

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to increase council powers to evict unauthorised traveller encampments; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Government is concerned about the cost and disruption that can be caused by unauthorised traveller encampments. That is why on 9 August 2013 we sent all council leaders in England updated guidance, reminding them to act swiftly and setting out the strong powers councils and landowners have to remove illegal and unauthorised sites on both public and private land.
	Our planning policy for traveller sites, issued in March 2012, removed the last Administration's planning guidance (Circular 01/06) which restricted the ability of councils to initiate enforcement action. We are currently reviewing whether further improvements can be made to planning policy and guidance to assist councils in taking action against unauthorised development.
	In addition, in the Localism Act 2011 we introduced provisions in England to allow for an appeal against enforcement or a retrospective planning application, not both. And in 2013, we removed a previous restriction on the use of Temporary Stop Notices that prevented local authorities in England taking enforcement action against a caravan used as a main residence.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many onshore wind development planning applications that had been considered by local planning authorities were subsequently called in by his Department in each of the five years.

Kris Hopkins: Since January 2010, three applications for onshore wind development have been called in by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles). The three applications have all been called in during 2014.
	All three followed requests by local or neighbouring Members of Parliament to call in the applications.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Adult Education

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to make additional provision for adult education in places where centres such as Learn Direct are being closed down.

Matthew Hancock: Learndirect is one of many providers delivering training, particularly English and Maths qualifications. The Skills Funding Agency anticipates that in geographic areas in which learndirect is reducing provision, other providers offering the same provision will engage with communities and local partners to meet geographic need.

Agriculture: Business

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in England were registered as agricultural businesses in each of the last five years.

Michael Fallon: Numbers of agricultural businesses registered for either VAT and/or PAYE in England are provided in the table.
	These estimates are drawn from the ONS publication ‘UK Business: activity, size and location’, which provides information on the number of active VAT and/or PAYE registered businesses in the UK. Any smaller non-employing businesses that are not registered for VAT will not be included. This publication is available at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/uk-business/index.html
	
		
			  Number of Agricultural businesses in England registered for VAT/PAYE 
			 2009 87,985 
			 2010 86,695 
			 2011 88,325 
			 2012 87,775 
			 2013 92,115 
			 Notes: 1. The figures are based on all VAT/PAYE registered businesses in the SIC industrial classification sector ‘01 Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities. 2. A small number of businesses were not included on the Inter Departmental Business Register before 2012; the effect at this level of detail is not known but the statistics given here for 2009 to 2011 may be slightly lower than if those businesses had been included.

Apprentices

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many higher apprenticeships were delivered via the (a) Higher Education Funding Council for England and (b) Skills Funding Agency in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: Employers offer apprenticeships, with training providers delivering the required training within an apprenticeship. Government funding for apprenticeships, including higher apprenticeships, is currently provided by the Skills Funding Agency to apprenticeship training providers.
	Information on the number of Government funded higher apprenticeships is published in a statistical first release (SFR) at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held

Apprentices: North West

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships were created in (a) Westmorland and Lonsdale, (b) South Lakeland, (c) Cumbria and (d) the North West (i) since 2010 and (ii) between 2005 and 2010.

Matthew Hancock: Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts by geography is published by academic year in a Supplementary Table, entitled ‘Breakdown by geography, equality and diversity and sector subject area: starts 2002/03 to 2012/13’,to a Statistical First Release (SFR):
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-apprenticeships--2
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/298401/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls

Business: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2014, Official Report, column 536W, on business: Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the success of the recent roadshow his Department co-hosted to promote the delivery of the British Business Bank in Northern Ireland.

Matthew Hancock: The recent roadshow in Northern Ireland, hosted by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), was attended by the Northern Ireland Executive, Invest Northern Ireland and a range of finance providers from Northern Ireland, including representatives from leading banks. The roadshow resulted in ongoing discussions with the Executive and finance providers to explore how the Business Bank can build upon existing levels of support in Northern Ireland.
	Officials from BIS and the Business Bank attended a meeting in Belfast on 9 July 2014 with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), Invest Northern Ireland and local investors as part of this continuing engagement, aimed at encouraging greater participation by Northern Ireland’s private sector in the Business Bank’s £300 million Investment Programme.
	On 2 July 2014, Government published a one-year update on the Economic Pact, which set out how the Government and the Executive have been working with the Business Bank to ensure Northern Ireland businesses and entrepreneurs can benefit from national finance schemes. This close co-operation will continue so that more local businesses gain from the available programmes.

Consumers: Protection

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to prevent sister companies offering similar products to consumers at substantially different prices.

Jo Swinson: The Government believes that the consumer is best served by the operation of open competition between companies, and does not generally intervene to regulate what businesses may or may not charge consumers for goods or services. Pricing policies such as these are commercial decisions for the trader, and are best left to the market. However, if there is evidence of collusion that is harming consumers, this should be provided to the Competition and Markets Authority, as the UK’s independent competition authority, who will consider it for investigation in line with their prioritisation principles.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Jo Swinson: Much of the legal advice given to the Department in connection with cases relating to the release of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is provided by the Department’s own directly employed legal advisers. No records are kept which would allow us separately to identify the cost of internal advice on Freedom of Information Act matters.
	here appropriate, the Department also obtains external litigation services in connection with such cases by instructing the Treasury Solicitor’s Department. It would be very difficult to identify from the information held by the Department in respect of payments for external legal services, payments in respect of cases relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The costs of trying to collate this information for each of the past 5 years would be disproportionate.

Gazumping

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovations and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage estate agents to notify buyers and sellers of the cost guarantee and other options available to them to prevent the practice of gazumping.

Jo Swinson: There are many different contractual arrangements buyers and sellers of property can enter to help manage risks and uncertainty in the process. They all entail different levels of risk, costs and benefits to both parties. The Government supports free, independent advice and guidance for consumers, through its funding of Citizen’s Advice, across a wide range of issues. However, ultimately matters such as conveyancing contracts should be discussed with a buyer or seller’s solicitor who can advise on the best approach an individual could take, should they wish to do so, according to their circumstances.

Higher Education

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what progress he has made in negotiations with private publishers on the confidentiality clauses negotiated by them when supplying university libraries;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to promote the Open Access academic publishing movement in the UK.

David Willetts: The Government remains committed to making publicly funded and published research freely and openly available. In the long term we believe the most effective form of Open Access (OA) will be Gold OA. I last commented on this subject in November 2013 in the Government’s response to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report on OA and this answer updates on progress since that statement.
	I was very pleased that in May 2014 the Institute of Physics (IoP) Publishing, a major publisher of academic papers, introduced an ‘offsetting’ arrangement that will allow institutions to publish more open access papers without incurring additional costs. I strongly encourage other publishers to follow the IoP Publishing’s lead.
	Further, the ‘Access to Research’ initiative was launched in February 2014 through the support of the publishing community. It allows students, independent researchers and small businesses to access many of the world’s best academic papers through their local libraries.
	We intend to maintain this level of progress and I am pleased that Universities UK (UUK) have agreed to take on a co-ordinating role for the continued implementation of OA policy in the UK. This follows a recommendation in the Finch Group’s report “Review of progress in Implementing the Recommendations of the Finch Report”, UUK are in the process of setting up a group which will consist of key stakeholders similar to that of the Finch Group.
	Additionally, the Research Sector Transparency Board (RSTB) which I chair advises Government on how to increase access to research data. My intention is that the RSTB will also continue to play a role in OA and preservation of scientific data.
	In relation to confidentiality clauses, this Department continues to monitor the situation and is encouraged by recent developments in this area.
	Finally, I wish to record my appreciation for the achievements of Ron Egginton, our lead official on OA who sadly and suddenly died on 8 June 2014. His expertise and commitment was instrumental in the progress that has been achieved in making the UK the leading major nation on OA.

Manufacturing Industries: Scotland

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage the manufacturing industry in Scotland.

Michael Fallon: Targeted initiatives to encourage manufacturing in Scotland are a devolved matter for the Scottish Government. However we are taking steps to strengthen manufacturing capability across the UK. These include support for innovation and technology commercialisation through the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, help for businesses seeking to tap into opportunities in foreign markets, and in January 2014, Reshore UK was set up to assist UK manufacturers looking to win back production and jobs from overseas.
	We are taking action to increase manufacturing investment. In the 2014 Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), doubled the annual investment allowance to £500,000 until the end of 2015. 100% first year capital allowances in enterprise zones will also be extended for three years to 31 March 2020.
	We are also helping energy intensive industries by compensating them for indirect costs of the carbon price floor and EU ETS extending beyond 2015-16. EIIs will also be compensated for the renewable obligation and feed-in tariffs from 2016-17.

Postal Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on any regulatory changes in regard to the Universal Postal Service; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Swinson: Ministers and officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills meet with officials from Ofcom, the independent regulator for postal services, on a regular basis to discuss a broad range of market issues. There have not been any specific discussions about regulatory changes to the universal service.
	The minimum requirements for the universal postal service, which includes among other things, the six day a week postal service to all addresses in the UK—rural and urban—at an affordable and uniform rate, are enshrined and protected in primary legislation—the Postal Services Act 2011. These minimum requirements can only be changed by Government with the approval of both Houses of Parliament.
	This Government has no plans for making any changes to the minimum requirements.

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party;
	(2)  on what occasions each Minister within his Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

Jo Swinson: The information requested in these questions is being researched. I will write to the hon. Member with a response and arrange for copies of these letters to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Jo Swinson: BIS staff have access to a wide range of learning tools to support professional and leadership development. These are available through the Civil Service Learning portal.
	BIS does not centrally collate details of individual attendances on professional development courses. To collate this information would incur disproportionate cost.

CABINET OFFICE

Arts

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost to the public purse was (a) in total, (b) of wine served at, (c) of food served at and (d) of catering staff working at the Best of British Creative Industries reception on 30 June 2014; and which ministers attended that event.

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was spent from the public purse on (a) wine and (b) food served at the Best of British Creative Industries reception on 30 June 2014; what the other costs to the public purse were of hosting the event; how many catering staff were required to facilitate the event; and which Ministers attended the event.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister holds a wide range of events for a range of sectors in the UK economy and meets leaders from all areas of industry. The creative industries employ nearly 1.7 million people and are worth £70 billion to the UK economy, and the Prime Minister is keen to find out how we can do better still in this area. The cost of the reception for approximately 400 guests from across film, music and theatre was £8,860.

Buildings

Kevan Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department spent on refurbishing (a) gym and leisure facilities, (b) cafeteria and (c) interior decoration (i) in his Department and (ii) buildings owned by his Department in (A) 2013 and (B) 2014 to date.

Francis Maude: There were no costs associated with refurbishing any leisure or cafeteria facilities in 2013 and 2014.
	Costs relating to modernisation of 70 Whitehall relate to a programme that began (or begun) in 2009 and WAS agreed by a previous Government.

Business: Regulation

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of savings to businesses in (a) the UK, (b) the Thames Valley and (c) Windsor constituency as a result of the Red Tape Challenge.

Nick Hurd: The Prime Minister announced in January 2014 that this would be the first government in modern history to reduce overall domestic regulation for business while in office. As part of this, he announced that the Red Tape Challenge programme had identified over 3,000 regulations to scrap or improve, delivering estimated savings to UK businesses of over £850 million per year by the end of the Parliament. Analysis of the impact of the deregulatory reforms on a geographical basis has not been developed.

Cancer

Derek Twigg: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many early deaths from cancer have occurred among (a) men and (b) women in each local authority area in each year since 2001; and what proportion of those diagnosed with cancer such deaths represented.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many early deaths from cancer have occurred among (a) men and (b) women in each local authority area in each year since 2001; and what proportion of those diagnosed with cancer such deaths represented.
	The latest available figures for deaths registrations are for the year 2012. There is no standard definition of ‘early’ death in this context, and different cancers can vary greatly in the age group they commonly affect. Tables 1 to 3 provide the number of deaths registered for the age groups 0-49, 50-64 and 65 and over respectively, where the underlying cause was cancer, among (a) men and (b) women in each local authority in England and Wales in each year from 2001 to 2012.
	ONS publishes statistics on the number of registrations (new diagnoses) of cancer in England, and these are available at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/cancer-statistics-registrations--england--series-mb1-/index.html
	However, it is not meaningful to calculate cancer deaths as a proportion of cancer diagnoses in any given year, since many of those dying in each year will have been diagnosed in previous years, while an individual diagnosed in that year may survive for many years subsequently.
	ONS also publishes outputs relating to cancer survival in England:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-21521
	A copy of the tables will be placed in the Library of the House.

Employment: Yorkshire and the Humber

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people are employed in Yorkshire and the Humber in (a) part-time, (b) full-time and (c) temporary jobs.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people are employed in Yorkshire and The Humber in (a) part-time, (b) full-time and (c) temporary jobs. (205106).
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles labour market statistics for areas smaller than the UK from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	The table shows the number of people resident in Yorkshire and The Humber who were employed on a part-time, full-time or temporary basis, according to survey responses from the APS for the 12 month period April 2013 to March 2014, the latest available period.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a certain level of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates of the levels is included on the table.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Number1 of people in employment in Yorkshire and the Humber 
			  Thousand 
			 Full-time *1,794 
			 Part-time *690 
			 Temporary *139 
			 1 Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 ≤ CV < 5 Estimates are considered precise. ** 5 ≤ CV < 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise. *** 10 ≤ CV < 20 Estimates are considered acceptable. **** CV ≥ 20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes. Source: Annual Population Survey.

Government Departments: Expenditure

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how much each Government department spent on (a) focus groups and (b) polling in (i) 2012 and (ii) 2013;
	(2)  how much each Government Department spent on tickets to the World Cup 2014; and for what purposes those tickets were acquired;
	(3)  how much each Government department and its agencies spent on external legal advice and representation in each year since 2010; and for what purpose;
	(4)  how much each Government Department spent on participation in employment tribunals in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013;
	(5)  what the number and value was of Instant Rewards awarded to civil servants in the last year.

Francis Maude: Expenditure incurred by other Government Departments is not held by the Cabinet Office.
	Spend incurred by my Department on the items requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, my Department has not spent money on World Cup tickets.
	This Government reduced the percentage of the Cabinet Office annual pay bill spent on in year rewards from 0.55%, prior to May 2010, to 0.25% now.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Young People

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of young people who left and subsequently returned to claiming jobseeker's allowance within six months in each year since 2010.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary question asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of young people who have left and have subsequently returned to claiming jobseeker's allowance within six months in each year since 2010. (204631)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics on people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance from the JobcentrePlus administrative system.
	Unfortunately, the information requested is not routinely produced and could only be at a disproportionate cost.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Low Pay: Kilmarnock

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency who are paid at a rate below the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated July 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency who are paid at a rate below the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation. (204636)
	The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. Hourly levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose earnings for the survey pay period were not affected by absence. It is not possible to estimate the number of people with earnings below specified thresholds, though it is possible to estimate the corresponding proportion of employee jobs. Figures relate to employee jobs, which are defined as those held by employees and not the self-employed.
	In April 2013, the latest period for which results are available, the Living Wage rate suggested by the Living Wage Foundation was £7.45 for employees who did not work in London. The proportion of employee jobs below this rate in Kilmarnock and Loudon constituency in April 2013 was 21.2% .**
	Guide to quality:
	The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV. For example, for an estimate of 50% with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 45% to 55%. This is given by 50% +/- ({2*.05}*50).
	Key:
	** CV > 10% and <= 20%

Morecambe

David Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will estimate how much money his Department has spent in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since May 2010.

Francis Maude: As was the situation under previous Administrations, the Cabinet Office accounts do not break down expenditure by constituency.

Self-Employed

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which sectors and occupations will be excluded from the general duties of self-employed persons for the purposes of the Deregulation Bill.

Oliver Letwin: The prescribed list will cover undertakings rather than specific sectors or occupations. An undertaking will be prescribed if one of the following four criteria is met:
	1. There are high numbers of self-employed in a particular industry, and high rates of injuries and/or fatalities (eg agriculture);
	2. There is a significant risk to members of the public (eg fairgrounds);
	3. There is the potential for mass fatalities (eg explosives); or
	4. There is a European obligation to retain the general duty on self-employed persons (eg construction-Council Directive 92/57/EEC imposes duties on the self-employed for safety and health requirements at temporary or mobile construction sites).
	A consultation on the regulations can be found at:
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd273.htm
	The definition of construction activities, to which the self employed will continue to have duties, can be found in the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

Stafford Hospital

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many babies were born at Stafford Hospital in each year since 2009-10.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated July 2014
	On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many babies were born at Stafford Hospital in each year since 2009-10. (204579)
	Figures for live births by hospital have been compiled from birth registration data. Information on place of birth is provided by the informant at registration rather than by the hospitals themselves. Information for 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 is provided below:
	
		
			 Live births occurring in Stafford hospital, 2009 to 2012 
			  Number 
			 2009 2,172 
			 2010 1,954 
			 2011 1,812 
			 2012 1,965 
			 Source: Birth Registration Data, ONS.

Unemployment: North West

Tim Farron: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what changes there have been in the unemployment rate in (a) Westmorland and Lonsdale, (b) South Lakeland, (c) Cumbria and (d) the North West (i) since 2010 and (ii) between 2005 and 2010;
	(2)  what change in employment levels there has been in (a) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, (b) South Lakeland, (c) Cumbria and (d) the North West (i) since 2010 and (ii) between 2005 and 2010.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change in employment levels there has been in (a) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, (b) South Lakeland, (c) Cumbria and (d) the North West (i) since 2010 and (ii) between 2005 and 2010 (204866) and; what changes there have been in the unemployment rate in (a) Westmorland and Lonsdale, (b) South Lakeland, (c) Cumbria and (d) the North West (i) since 2010 and (ii) between 2005 and 2010. (204788)
	The ONS compiles Labour Market Statistics for areas below the UK following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions using the Annual Population Survey (APS).
	Table 1 shows the number and net change in the number of people in employment resident in the requested geographies. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the periods January 2005 to December 2005, January 2010 to December 2010 and April 2013 to March 2014, the latest available period.
	Table 2 shows the unemployment rate and change in the rate of people resident in the requested geographies. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the periods January 2005 to December 2005, January 2010 to December 2010 and April 2013 to March 2014, the latest available period. The estimates for South Lakeland are calculated from a statistical model covering the same period.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of people in employment and net change in the number of people in employment 
			 Thousand 
			  12 month periods ending: Net change in employment between 12 month periods ending 
			  December 2005 December 2010 March 20141 December 2005 and December 2010 December 2010 and March 2014 
			 Westmorland and Lonsdale 41 37 **47 -4 10 
			 South Lakeland 50 50 **53 -1 3 
			 Cumbria 234 233 *236 -1 2 
			 North West 3,133 3,132 *3,156 -1 25 
			 1 Coefficients of Variation have been calculated as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Source: Annual Population Survey 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Unemployment rate and change in the unemployment rate 
			  12 month periods ending: Change in unemployment rate between 12 month periods ending 
			  December 2005 December 2010 March 2014 December 2005 and December 2010 December 2010 and March 2014 
			 Westmorland and Lonsdale 1.4 4.2 **2.2 2.8 -1.1 
		
	
	
		
			 South Lakeland1 2.3 3.5 **2.7 1.2 -0.8 
			 Cumbria 3.9 6.8 *5.2 2.9 -0.2 
			 North West 5.2 8.0 *7.9 2.8 0.0 
			 1 Estimates of the unemployment rate for people in local authorities is calculated from a statistical model derived from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and the Claimant Count. This is different to the estimates for other areas which are from the APS. Source: Annual Population Survey/Model based estimates of unemployment.

Unemployment: Young People

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the number of people aged between 16 and 24 who are not in employment or training and are not claiming jobseeker's allowance.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for the number of people aged between 16 to 24 who are not in employment or training and are not claiming jobseeker's allowance. (JSA) (204630)
	Estimates of employment and participation in education and training are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a survey of people resident in households in the UK. The LFS asks respondents questions about the benefits they are claiming; however this information is not of a sufficient quality from this source. As an alternative, the LFS can identify those who are unemployed, based upon the International Labour Organization (ILO) definition, which relate to the respondent's job seeking activities in the week prior to interview.
	For the period January to March 2014, it was estimated that there were 468,000 people aged 16 to 24 not classified as either employed or unemployed (known as “economically inactive”) and reporting that they are not in any form of education or training.
	The ONS publishes this estimate quarterly in the Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) statistical bulletin, found via the following link:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/young-people-not-in-education--employment-or-training--neets-/may-2014/statistical-bulletin.html

Unemployment: Young People

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many unemployed young people have been out of work for more than (a) four, (b) six, (c) 12 and (d) 24 months.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter form Glen Watson, dated July 2014:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many young people who are currently unemployed have been out of work for more than (a) four, (b) six, (c) 12 and (d) 24 months. (204860)
	Quarterly estimates of the Labour Market are available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The most recent LFS period available is the February to April quarter. Due to the way the data are collected it is not possible to provide an estimate of young persons unemployed for more than 4 months, however, I have provided an estimate of young people unemployed for more than 3 months. In order to answer your question I have applied the LFS definition of ‘Young People’, which is persons aged 16 to 24.
	The table provided contains estimates for the total number of persons aged 16 to 24 currently unemployed by duration of unemployment for the period February to April 2014. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. It is estimated that the true value for the total number of persons aged 16 to 24 unemployed, is likely to be within 3 per cent of the estimate given.
	
		
			 Number of unemployed people aged 16 to 24 by duration of unemployment February to April 2014 
			  More than:  
			  Three Months Six months 12 months 24 months Total unemployed 
			 United Kingdom      
			 Level (thousand) 510 374 233 103 757 
			 Percentage 67.3 49.4 30.7 13.5 100 
			 Source: Labour Force Survey

Unemployment: Young People

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to publish the findings of Sir Jeremy Heywood's inquiry on youth unemployment.

Francis Maude: The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister commissioned work last summer to look at provision for 16 to 24-year-olds to see if more could be done to help young people into work. This has informed internal policy advice that has been provided to Ministers on an ongoing basis. A number of initial findings led to announcements by the Chancellor in the autumn statement, and by the Deputy Prime Minister in February 2014. Further findings will be announced over time.

Warrington Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many babies have been born at Warrington Hospital in each year since 2008.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Peter Fullerton, dated July 2014
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking the Secretary of State for Health on how many babies have been born at Warrington Hospital in each year since 2008
	Figures for live births by hospital have been compiled from birth registration data. Information on place of birth is provided by the informant at registration rather than by the hospitals themselves.
	
		
			 Live births occurring in Warrington Hospital 2008-2012 
			  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Warrington Hospital 3,368 3,274 3,335 3,050 3,229 
			 Source: Birth Registration Data, ONS

Youth Services

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment his Department has made of the quality and consistency of youth services outsourced by local authorities.

Nick Hurd: Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide services to improve young people's well-being. As was the case under previous administrations it is at the discretion of local authorities to decide how to deliver these services and whether the particular services they fund are delivered directly or through third parties. Government does not require local authorities to report this information.
	We know that many local authorities are embracing new, innovative ways of delivering high quality services that respond to local need and remain focused on the well-being of young people.

TREASURY

Low Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of employees hired under the employment allowance scheme are paid below the living wage as set by the Living Wage Foundation.

David Gauke: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 1 May 2014, Official Report, column 796W.
	The information requested is not available.
	The employment allowance is available to businesses and charities and is worth up to £2,000 off their total employer class 1 national insurance contributions (NICs) bill.
	Employers are likely to use the NICs savings from the allowance in a variety of ways. Research by the Federation of Small Businesses suggests that employers may use these savings to increase wages, employ more staff or invest in their business.

Mapeley

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the next revised, non-binding Estates Strategies issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will take account of a proposed boundary change at Priory Court, Dover, in respect of the number of available business square metres required by HMRC at the facility under 10.14 (a) of the Private Finance Initiative contract between HMRC and Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited.

David Gauke: HMRC has indicated to Mapeley who own the land, that we will consider any reasonable proposals in relation to the land at Priory Court Dover. We have no future plans for this property.

Mapeley

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the issue of a proposed boundary change at Priory Court, Dover, in respect of the number of available business square metres required by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at the facility under 10.14 (a) of the Private Finance Initiative contract between HMRC and Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited was discussed during the six month consultation before the previous revised, non-binding Estates Strategies issued by HMRC.

David Gauke: HMRC has indicated to Mapeley who own the land, that we will consider any reasonable proposals in relation to the land at Priory Court Dover. We have no future plans for this property.

Mapeley

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Revenue and Customs will next issue revised, non-binding Estates Strategies to Mapeleys STEPS Contractor Limited under 10.14 of the Private Finance Initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited.

David Gauke: The timing of when HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) next issues Estates Strategies to Mapeley is subject to continuous review. The date when this information is next shared with Mapeley has not yet been determined.

Mapeley

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the previous revised, non-binding Estates Strategies issued by HM Revenue and Customs took account of a proposed boundary change at Priory Court, Dover, in respect to the number of available business square metres required by HM Revenue and Customs at the facility under section 10.14 (a) of the Private Finance Initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has indicated to Mapeley, who own the land, that we will consider any reasonable proposals in relation to the land at Priory Court, Dover.

Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that HM Revenue and Customs staff based in Northern Ireland are currently working on personal taxation matters who are scheduled to be offered voluntary redundancy terms will be given the opportunity of being redeployed to benefits and credits employment.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has not offered any voluntary redundancies in Northern Ireland in the current financial year. However, this cannot be ruled out in the future if redeployment options cannot be found for staff in need of new roles. HMRC will work to redeploy these people to other business areas within the Department and across the wider civil service.
	Personal tax (PT) staff in Londonderry and Enniskillen entered HMRC’s redeployment pool in early June. People in the redeployment pool have priority status when applying for roles on level transfer across HMRC and the wider civil service, maximising their opportunity for a new job at their current grade.
	Additionally, people working in inquiry centres in PT across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, who have not secured a role in the new service have also entered the redeployment pool.
	Custom House, Newry, is primarily a PT site. None of HMRC’s lines of business intend to retain a presence there, and HMRC is in consultation on a proposed closure date for the office in 2015. Staff at Newry have been given the opportunity to enter the redeployment pool in advance of the outcome of the consultation due to be announced in September. While these people are in the pool, HMRC will do all it can to redeploy them within the Department or to help them find jobs elsewhere in the civil service.

Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that HM Revenue and Customs staff based in Northern Ireland who are scheduled to face voluntary redundancy in the current financial year will be considered for redeployment to work in the Passport Office.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has not offered any voluntary redundancies in Northern Ireland in the current financial year. However, this cannot be ruled out in the future if redeployment options cannot be found for staff in need of new roles. Civil service departments will work together to do all they can to redeploy staff who have formally been declared surplus.
	Personal tax staff in Londonderry and Enniskillen entered HMRC’s redeployment pool in early June. People in the redeployment pool have priority status when applying for roles on level transfer across HMRC and the wider civil service, maximising their opportunity for a new job at their current grade.
	Additionally, people working in inquiry centres across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, who have not secured a role in the new service have also entered the redeployment pool.
	None of HMRC’s lines of business intend to remain in Custom House, Newry, and HMRC is in consultation on a proposed closure date for the office in 2015. Staff at Newry have been given the opportunity to enter the redeployment pool in advance of the outcome of the consultation due to be announced in September. While these people are in the pool, HMRC will do all it can to redeploy them within the Department or to help them find jobs elsewhere in the civil service.

Tax Avoidance

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total cost to the UK of the implementation of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act in (a) the current financial year and (b) the following two financial years.

David Gauke: The estimate of the cost of the implementation of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) set out in the Tax Information and Impact Note that accompanied the regulations to implement the UK-USA Intergovernmental Agreement. The Tax Impact Note estimates that the costs to United Kingdom financial institutions to implement the domestic law to allow the UK to be FATCA compliant will involve an initial investment of £0.9 billion to £1.6 billion, with an ongoing cost of £50 million to £90 million a year.
	This is a reduction to the estimated costs of an initial investment of £2 billion to £3 billion, with ongoing costs of £100 million to £170 million a year that United Kingdom business would have faced if they had to report to the United States directly in accordance with United States Treasury Regulations.
	The initial investment costs have not been allocated to any financial year, but the ongoing costs are expected to apply for both the current, and the following two financial years.

Tonnage Tax: Isle of Wight

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of the Isle of Wight of the decision not to allow tonnage tax to apply to the Isle of Wight's ferry services.

David Gauke: No such assessment has been made. HM Revenue and Customs must apply the law as it stands according to the best of its judgment, with the benefit of legal advice where appropriate.

Tonnage Tax: Isle of Wight

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) cadet training and (b) marine employment of the decision not to allow tonnage tax to apply to the Isle of Wight's ferry services.

David Gauke: No such assessment has been made. HM Revenue and Customs must apply the law as it stands according to the best of its judgment, with the benefit of legal advice where appropriate.

Tonnage Tax: Isle of Wight

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the reasons are for HM Revenue and Customs change of policy with regards to the imposition of tonnage tax on Isle of Wight ferries; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs must apply the law as it stands according to the best of its judgment, with the benefit of legal advice where appropriate.
	There have been no changes in the application of the policy. The legislation affecting in particular ferry services was last amended in the Finance Act 2005, in response to amendments to the EU Commission’s guidelines on the application of state aids to maritime transport. Tonnage tax must conform to these guidelines.

Video Games: Tax Allowances

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of companies in Scotland which would benefit from video games tax relief.

David Gauke: As published in the Tax Information and Impact note, it is estimated that there are approximately 300 video games companies in the UK that may benefit from Video Games Tax Relief. No estimate is available for Scotland separately.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Air Travel

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what occasions each Minister within her Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

Alan Duncan: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of all ministerial overseas travel are published on a quarterly basis. Any such flight would normally be to Glasgow where DFID has an office in East Kilbride.

Burma

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure that displaced Rohingya Muslims have access to basic medicine and healthcare provision.

Alan Duncan: DFID, along with other aid agencies on the ground in Rakhine, are working to ensure a co-ordinated response. Our bilateral humanitarian support in Rakhine includes assistance for water, sanitation, and nutrition. Support is provided to both communities. We have not provided bilateral support for medicine and healthcare provision, but ECHO and UN agencies to whom we provide core funding, are. In addition to the delivery of aid, DFID and the FCO continue to advocate at all levels of Government for establishment of conditions which allow for unhindered humanitarian access.

Burma

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department is providing additional funding to The Border Consortium to help reverse recent ration cuts for refugees from Burma in camps in Thailand which they supply.

Alan Duncan: DFID is funding The Border Consortium though a three year programme which started in November 2012. The UK is one of the largest donors to The Border Consortium.

Burma

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which companies and organisations are subcontracted or given grants by the World Bank to carry out projects in Burma funded by British aid.

Alan Duncan: DFID does not track all companies and organisations subcontracted or given grants by multilateral partners, such as the World Bank. DFID’s Development Tracker, on the gov.uk website, and the World Bank’s website contain many details about procurement and the flow of funds for individual projects. We also publish, on the gov.uk website, our Statement of Priorities and Expectations for Suppliers which sets expectations for the use of subcontracted organisations.

Burma

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support for the Backpack Health Worker Team programme in Burma her Department will provide in the next two years.

Alan Duncan: DFID has not made plans to fund the Backpack Health Worker Team through our bilateral programme in Burma after our current funding commitments with them conclude. DFID continues to support the 3MDG Trust Fund in Burma which supports many local NGOs across Burma in health activities.

Commonwealth Scholarships Programme: Northern Ireland

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission does to promote the availability of its scholarships to students resident in Northern Ireland.

Lynne Featherstone: The scholarships offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK are for citizens of other Commonwealth countries to study in the United Kingdom, or for UK qualifications. UK citizens resident in the United Kingdom are not eligible for these awards.

Developing Countries: Abortion

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 1W, on abortion, if she will withdraw her Department's policy position paper entitled Safe and Unsafe Abortion pending a free vote in the House on the use of UK aid to (a) campaign for more liberal abortion laws in other countries and (b) provide abortion services in other countries.

Lynne Featherstone: The policy paper sets out how UK aid can be used to save the lives of women at risk from unsafe abortion, in accordance with the responsibilities that Parliament has given the Secretary of State.

Developing Countries: Christianity

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the processes governing the allocation of UK development assistance gives cognisance to the escalation of persecution against Christians.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government is at the forefront of work to promote human rights around the world, and regularly criticises Governments which violates those rights. This includes working to end religious intolerance and persecution and we strongly condemn any alleged persecution and will continue to uphold the rights of citizens, regardless of faith, ethnicity or belief.
	We only provide aid directly to Governments where we are satisfied that they share our commitments to reduce poverty and respect human rights. Where we cannot provide aid directly to Governments, we will find other ways to help poor people in those countries.

Developing Countries: Forests

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of which countries are most at risk from deforestation.

Lynne Featherstone: The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that globally around 13 million hectares of forests were cleared each year between 2000 and 2010. Countries where major rainforest clearance took place from 2005-10 include Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria.

Developing Countries: Forests

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what rainforest projects her Department is supporting.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID supports the following projects that target the drivers of deforestation in rainforests: the Forest Investment Programme; the Congo Basin Forest Fund; the Forest Governance, Markets and Climate Programme; the Improving Governance of Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry Programme in Indonesia; and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility.

Developing Countries: Forests

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of her Department's projects involve indigenous communities in (a) all and (b) Commonwealth rainforests.

Lynne Featherstone: All of DFID's bilateral forestry programmes, and the multilateral forestry programmes DFID supports, include the participation of forest-dependent communities who are often indigenous people.
	These programmes cover the following 6 Commonwealth rainforest countries: Belize, Cameroon, Ghana, Guyana, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda.

Developing Countries: Malaria

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding has been committed to tackling malaria in each year since 2009-10.

Lynne Featherstone: The methodology for monitoring the Government's spending on malaria is provided in Annex A of the UK’s Framework for Results for malaria in the developing world.
	Figures for estimated total malaria spend using the methodology set out in the Framework for Results are reproduced as follows:
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Total malaria spend 193.7 306.2 252.8 312.6 
		
	
	Figures for 2013-14 are not yet publicly available.

Development Aid

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding her Department provided to each country in receipt of UK development aid (a) directly and (b) indirectly per head of population in each of the last 10 years.

Justine Greening: The direct and indirect funding by the Department for International Development to each country in receipt of UK development aid is set out in the last two columns of Tables 14.1 to 14.5 in the following link for years 2004-05 until 2008-09.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67720/final-printed-sid-2009.pdf
	The last two columns of Tables 9.1 to 9.5 in the following link will provide details of direct and indirect spend respectively in each country for years 2008-09 until 2012-13.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statistics-on-international-development-201213-gpex-tables
	The following link is to the website of the United Nations population Fund (UNFPA) which publishes statistics on country populates.
	http://www.unfpa.org/public/

Ethiopia

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if officials in her Department will meet displaced people from the Gambella region of Ethiopia to discuss forcible removal and abuse in the Ethiopian Government's villagisation programme.

Justine Greening: Since February 2011, DFID has undertaken several visits to Gambella and to Gambellan refugees residing in Kenya and South Sudan. These visits have included discussions about allegations of abuse and forced movement in relation to the Commune Development Programme.
	DFID, together with partners from the Development Assistance Group in Ethiopia (the ‘DAG’), is planning a further visit to Gambella later this year.

Ethiopia

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last discussed the villagisation programme with the Government of Ethiopia.

Justine Greening: Ministers and officials regularly discuss all aspects of the bilateral programme with the Government of Ethiopia.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Alan Duncan: It is not possible to disaggregate this data into the form requested.

Middle East

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2014, Official Report, column 644W, on infrastructure projects: Jordan Valley, what positive benefits for Palestinians living in Area C have resulted so far from her Department's engagement with Israel.

Alan Duncan: Two Palestinian-led masterplans covering three areas have been approved following engagement with the Israeli authorities. As a result, these communities are able to plan for and build the homes and infrastructure they need without fear of demolition. We continue to advocate for the approval of more masterplans.

Oxfam

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much public funding her Department gave directly or indirectly to Oxfam in the last period for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: In financial year 2013-14 DFID provided £34.6 million to Oxfam GB for their international humanitarian response programmes and long-term development work. DFID provides no support to Oxfam's UK programmes.

Palestinians

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to questions 167-8 of the oral evidence given by the Minister of State at her Department to the International Development Committee on 8 May 2014, if she will review her policy of paying money to the Palestinian Authority which may be used to pay salaries to the families of convicted terrorists.

Alan Duncan: No UK money is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails or their families. UK direct financial assistance is used to pay the salaries of civil servants from an approved list.

Palestinians

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to questions 167-8 of the oral evidence given by the Minister of State at her Department to the International Development Committee on 8 May 2014, how much funding her Department gave to the Palestinian Authority in each of the last 10 years which was used (a) directly and (b) indirectly to pay salaries to the families of convicted terrorists.

Alan Duncan: Since 2013, UK aid to the Palestinian Authority has been used to pay civil servant salaries only. Our funding has previously contributed to the PA overall budget, which funded three types of payments linked to political prisoners in Israeli jails who had been convicted, were pending trial or were in administrative detention. The first was a minimal allowance to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails intended to cover the cost of food and clothes at the request of the Israeli Authorities. The second was a welfare payment for family members where the primary provider is incarcerated. The third was support to help former prisoners reintegrate into society and find employment.

Palestinians

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding her Department provided (a) directly and (b) indirectly to the Palestinian Authority in each of the last 10 years.

Alan Duncan: UK direct financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority over the past 10 financial years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2005-06 10 
			 2006-07 11.9 
			 2007-08 18.5 
			 2008-09 23.5 
			 2009-10 38.5 
			 2010-11 30 
			 2011-12 30 
			 2012-13 34.1 
			 2013-14 41.7 
			 2014-15 122.9 
			 1 Forecast 
		
	
	Information about indirect UK support for the Palestinian Authority through the EU can be found at:
	http://eeas.europa.eu/palestine/ec_assistance/index_en.htm
	The UK contribution to the EU development budget is approximately 15%.

Papua New Guinea

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes her Department funds and operates in Papua New Guinea.

Alan Duncan: DFID does not have a bilateral programme with Papua New Guinea. The UK does however provide assistance through our attributable contributions to multilateral development organisations and global programmes that benefit a number of countries. Information on the amount of UK aid provided to Papua New Guinea for each of the last five years can be found in table 16.5 of Statistics on International Development (SID):
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/268301/Table_16.5.xls

Procurement

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2014, Official Report, column 592W, on developing countries, which organisations based (a) in the UK and (b) overseas, with which her Department has contracts, restrict employment in certain posts because they require a particular understanding of the faith-based values and beliefs of that organisation; and what proportion of such posts are so restricted in each such organisation.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID works to ensure that organisations delivering contracts on its behalf do not discriminate. DFID is not aware of contracting any organisation that restricts employment to members of particular faiths.

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in her Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Alan Duncan: We have no central report readily available detailing the senior civil servants who have been appointed since 2010 and who were previously (a) political appointees within DFID and (b) employed by a political party. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what professional development courses are made available to staff of her Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Alan Duncan: DFID has decentralised responsibility for training and professional development to line managers and heads of profession. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

TRANSPORT

Air Travel

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions each Minister within his Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

Stephen Hammond: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of all ministerial overseas travel is published on a quarterly basis at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments %5B%5D=department-for-transport&publication_type= transparency-data

Bus Services: Disability

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the results of the bus driver disability training review.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport has recently reviewed the use of a derogation applied under EU Regulation 181/2011 (concerning bus/coach passenger rights) exempting bus and coach drivers from undertaking mandatory disability awareness training.
	To inform the review, on 24 February 2014 the Minister of State for Transport, my noble Friend Baroness Kramer, wrote to bus industry representatives, disability stakeholders and charities seeking their input, to determine whether drivers are receiving adequate disability awareness training under the current voluntary arrangement.
	Having received and considered many comprehensive responses, Baroness Kramer will share her findings with ministerial colleagues shortly and discuss how to best to proceed.
	In the meantime, a summary of responses received in relation to the review will be made available on the Government’s website in due course.

Bus Services: Visual Impairment

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Fifth Report of the Transport Committee of Session 2013-14, on Access to Transport for Disabled People, HC 116, what assessment he has made of the progress of bus operators in installing audio-visual announcement systems for people with sight loss as recommended in paragraph 29 of that report.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport recognises that many people find audio and visual announcements useful for travelling. Given the obvious benefits of these systems to blind and partially sighted passengers, we are keen to encourage operators and local authorities to invest in this technology for their buses, where possible.
	However, we also understand that the installation of this technology comes at a considerable cost.
	My noble colleague, Baroness Kramer, wrote to bus operators on 4 February 2014 to encourage the development of more affordable audio-visual systems. In addition, on 2 July 2014 Baroness Kramer outlined plans for a further research initiative, run by the Department for Transport and the Transport Systems catapult, involving small businesses and academic institutions to encourage further innovation in this area.

Buses: Safety

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions traffic commissioners have (a) revoked a bus or coach operator's licence and (b) curtailed the number of vehicles which an operator is allowed to run under its licence for failing to meet safety standards since 2000.

Stephen Hammond: The data that is currently recorded for action taken against bus and coach operators does not identify specifically where the action has been as a result of failing to meet safety standards. The following data shows the number of licences where the operator had their licence revoked or had the authorisation reduced. This data is therefore where operators have failed to meet “licence” standards, such as financial standing, repute, undertakings as well as those relating to vehicle and driver safety standards.
	
		
			  Revoked Reduction authorisation 
			 2013-14 75 30 
			 2012-13 61 35 
			 2011-12 71 23 
			 2010-11 57 34 
			 2009-10 63 38 
			 2008-09 64 49 
			 2007-08 55 60 
			 2006-07 38 44 
			 2005-06 49 48 
			 2004-05 68 65 
			 2003-04 53 78 
			 2002-03 63 65 
			 2001-02 67 67 
			 2000-01 55 49 
		
	
	The traffic commissioners recognise that additional data would be useful for completing the compliance picture and are already working with the Department and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency through the Compliance Forum to deliver against that aim.

Buses: Safety

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions traffic commissioners have sanctioned (a) bus operators and (b) coach operators for failing to meet safety standards since 2000.

Stephen Hammond: The data that is currently recorded for action taken against bus and coach operators does not identify specifically where the action has been as a result of failing to meet safety standards. The following data shows the number of public inquiries that were heard in relation to bus and coach operators where regulatory action was taken. This data is therefore where operators have failed to meet “licence” standards, such as financial standing, repute, undertakings as well as those relating to vehicle and driver safety standards.
	
		
			 Financial year Regulatory action 
			 2013-14 199 
			 2012-13 148 
			 2011-12 171 
			 2010-11 163 
			 2009-10 168 
			 2008-09 195 
			 2007-08 174 
			 2006-07 134 
			 2005-06 162 
			 2004-05 232 
			 2003-04 222 
			 2002-03 210 
			 2001-02 211 
			 2000-01 172 
		
	
	The traffic commissioners recognise that additional data would be useful for completing the compliance picture and are already working with the Department and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency through the Compliance Forum to deliver against that aim.

Buses: Safety

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the traffic commissioners to discuss safety standard adherence by bus or coach companies.

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State and his ministerial colleagues have periodic meetings with the Senior Traffic Commissioner to discuss a range of issues. The Secretary of State last met with the Senior Traffic Commissioner on 8 July this year.

Carnforth Station

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether the relevant local authority is to fund or reinstate Carnforth Station rail platforms on the West Coast mainline following their removal in error in the 1970s;
	(2)  which governmental body will make funds available to fund a feasibility study into the reinstatement of platforms at Carnforth Station on the West Coast Main Line.

Stephen Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 April 2014, Official Report, column 196W.

Carnforth Station

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on upgrading Carnforth Railway Station for additional future services.

Stephen Hammond: The winning bidder of the TransPennine Express franchise will be expected to deliver improved service quality to customers at all TransPennine Express stations, including Carnforth.
	The provision of additional infrastructure at Carnforth is a matter for Network Rail.

Driver and Vehicle Agency: Northern Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for the Home Department the possibility of redeploying staff at the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency offices in Northern Ireland who are currently facing redundancy to carry out urgent work on processing passport applications across the UK.

Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) is an agency of the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment. Its employees are part of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, falling within the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.
	Department for Transport officials are continuing to work with those in Northern Ireland to ensure appropriate support is given to DVA staff affected by the changes to vehicle services in Northern Ireland.

Driving: Licensing

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of driving licences were withdrawn from people ordinarily resident in Scotland on the basis of alcohol abuse (a) following road accidents and (b) at the request of medical practitioners in each of the last five years.

Stephen Hammond: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) does not hold information on the number of driving licences withdrawn on the basis of alcohol abuse following a road traffic accident.
	The most recent information obtained on 2 July confirms that no driving licences have been withdrawn on the basis of alcohol abuse at the request of a general practitioner or a medical practitioner in the last five years.

First Transpennine Express and Northern Rail

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the local transport authorities which form Rail North and are jointly responsible for the (a) TransPennine Express and (b) Northern Rail franchises will have the freedom to specify (i) staffing levels, (ii) ticket office hours and (iii) driver-only specification of new rolling stock in the new franchise bids for each line.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport is currently conducting a joint public consultation with Rail North which will inform the specifications for both the Northern and TransPennine Express franchises; no decisions have yet been taken. While the Secretary of State will make the final decisions on the franchise specifications, Rail North authorities are very involved in this process, including having representatives working within the Department for Transport teams. We expect, however, that for both franchises: (i) staffing levels will be left for bidders to propose; (ii) under the current policy bidders are free to propose changes to ticket office hours, but any change could only take place following further public consultation; and (iii) Specification of Driver Only Operation is being considered for the Northern franchise but we expect to leave this free for bidders to propose on the TransPennine Express franchise.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Stephen Hammond: The amount spent by this Department and its Executive Agencies on external legal fees relating to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, namely payments to the Treasury Solicitor’s Department and counsel, in each of the last five financial years, is as shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year External legal spend (excluding VAT) (£) 
			 2009-10 17,495 
			 2010-11 32,404 
			 2011-12 311 
			 2012-13 3,068 
			 2013-14 69 
			 2014-151 31,785 
			 1 Includes figures for payments of fees made to date.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of extending the potential economic benefits of extending High Speed 2 to Colchester.

Robert Goodwill: HS2 will help to promote economic growth and drive regional regeneration by bringing our major cities closer together, supporting job creation across the country and deliver around £2 of benefits for every £1 spent.
	The Department has not assessed the potential economic benefits of extending HS2 to Colchester.
	Only last Monday (7 July) Government announced the first instalment of plans to invest at least £12 billion in local economies across England in a series of Growth Deals, between 2015-16 and 2020-21.
	As part of their Growth Deal the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (which includes Essex as well as Thurrock, Southend, Kent, Medway and East Sussex) has secured some £442 million to support economic growth in the area-with £64 million of new funding confirmed for 2015-16.
	As part of this allocation there is £2 million for a programme of sustainable transport measures in Colchester, alongside a further £10 million for integrated transport packages in the town centre. This is on top of a provisional allocation in the region of £3 million towards transport improvements in the A133 Colchester to Clacton corridor.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the costs of planned investment in (a) Wi-Fi access on trains, (b) provision of customer information and (c) SMART ticketing technology during the new franchise agreement with NXET Trains Ltd for passenger services on the Essex Thameside line; what proportion of each category of funding will fall to (i) the franchisee, (ii) Network Rail and (iii) the public sector.

Stephen Hammond: The standstill period for the Essex Thameside franchise competition has not yet concluded, as such the Department has not signed the new franchise agreement and we are not able to confirm this information at this time. An announcement will be made shortly once the agreement has been signed.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total annual public sector payment will be in each year to 2029 under the new franchise agreement for rail passenger services on the Essex Thameside line.

Stephen Hammond: The standstill period for the Essex Thameside franchise competition has not yet concluded, as such the Department has not signed the new franchise agreement and we are not able to confirm this information at this time. An announcement will be made shortly once the agreement has been signed.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the planned investment in stations on the Essex Thameside line during the new franchise agreement with NXET Trains Ltd will be funded by the (a) franchisee, (b) Network Rail and (c) the public sector in each case.

Stephen Hammond: The standstill period for the Essex Thameside franchise competition has not yet concluded, as such the Department has not signed the new franchise agreement and we are not able to confirm this information at this time. An announcement will be made shortly once the agreement has been signed.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the rolling stock maintenance arrangements will be for the franchise agreement with NXET Trains Ltd for rail passenger services on the Essex Thameside line.

Stephen Hammond: The standstill period for the Essex Thameside franchise competition has not yet concluded, as such the Department has not signed the new franchise agreement and we are not able to confirm this information at this time. An announcement will be made shortly once the agreement has been signed. Rolling stock maintenance will be a matter for the franchisee.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) funding and (b) ownership arrangements are for the 17 new trains to be introduced on the Essex Thameside line under the terms of the new franchise agreement with NXET Trains Ltd; and what the deadline is for the introduction into service of the new fleet.

Stephen Hammond: The procurement of new trains, comprising 68 new vehicles, is being carried out by NXET Trains Ltd under European Union Procurement Regulations and has not yet begun. Decisions about this procurement are a commercial matter for the operator.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the new trains due to be introduced during the new franchise agreement with NXET Trains Ltd for rail passenger services on the Essex Thameside line will be equipped with accommodation for a train guard.

Stephen Hammond: The procurement of new trains is being carried out by NXET Trains Ltd under European Union Procurement Regulations and has not yet begun. Decisions about this procurement are a commercial matter for the operator.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with NXET Trains Ltd about minimum levels of (a) on-train, (b) station and (c) ticket office staffing levels in each year of the new franchise agreement for rail passenger services on the Essex Thameside line; and what current staffing levels are in each such category on the line.

Stephen Hammond: Staffing is a matter for the operator; as such no discussions have been held between the Secretary of State for Transport and NXET Trains Ltd and minimum levels of staffing have not been specified.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with NXET Trains Ltd over plans to make staff more visible at stations on the Essex Thameside line during the term of the new franchise agreement for rail passenger services.

Stephen Hammond: The standstill period for the Essex Thameside franchise competition has not yet concluded, as such the Department has not signed the new franchise agreement and we are not able to confirm this information at this time. An announcement will be made shortly once the agreement has been signed.

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safeguards there are in the new franchise agreement on the Essex Thameside line with NXET Trains Ltd against unsafe reductions in staff over the life of the agreement.

Stephen Hammond: Staffing on the franchise is a matter for the operator. The operator must act within the regulatory environment of the railway, which includes safety obligations under their license to operate (granted by the Office of Rail Regulation).

London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Line

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new (a) automatic ticket gates and (b) ticket vending machines will be introduced at stations on the Essex Thameside route under the terms of the new franchise agreement with NXET Trains Ltd for rail passenger services.

Stephen Hammond: The standstill period for the Essex Thameside franchise competition has not yet concluded, as such the Department has not signed the new franchise agreement and we are not able to confirm this information at this time. An announcement will be made shortly once the agreement has been signed. There is already a gate at every station on the franchise and all stations have ticket vending machines (with the exception of West Ham, which is managed by Transport for London). Additional ticket validation will be provided at Dagenham Dock to support step free access at that station.

Northern Rail

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Northern Rail has pledged to invest in station upgrades under the franchise extension announced on 27 March 2014.

Stephen Hammond: The level of investment Northern Rail is committed to for station upgrade works is designated commercially sensitive. This figure has been redacted from the publicly available interim franchise agreement, which is accessible online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/northern

Railway Stations: Disability

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure disabled rail users can access all platforms at rural stations.

Stephen Hammond: By 2015 the Access for All programme will have spent over £400 million providing accessible routes at more than 150 stations since its launch in 2006. An additional £100 million, to fund a further 42 projects up to 2019, was allocated in April 2014. More than 1,100 stations have also benefited from smaller scale access improvements under the programme. Many of these projects have been at rural stations and are over and above accessibility improvements delivered as part of other station infrastructure works.

Railways: Scotland

Iain McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to improve rail connections from northern England to Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: A key element of the Government's strategy for the railways is improving connectivity to support economic growth—facilitating business, commuting and leisure journeys.
	Projects and programmes that are set to improve connectivity between the north of England and Scotland by increasing capacity, reducing journey times, and/or improving performance or train frequencies include:
	(a) Electrification in the North West of England—10 brand new four-coach electric trains commenced operation on the route between Manchester airport and Edinburgh/Glasgow in May this year;
	(b) The refranchising programme—including a recent Direct Award to Virgin West Coast Trains and award of the next Intercity East Coast franchise later this year and the next TransPennine Express franchise in 2015;
	(c) HS2—as announced in November last year, the Department is undertaking a study in collaboration with the Scottish Government to identify the broad options available to make further capacity and journey time improvements between northern England and Scotland.

Regional Airports

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the importance of regional airports in meeting the UK’s aviation needs.

Robert Goodwill: The Government’s Aviation Policy Framework affirms that the Government wants to see the best use of the UK’s existing airport capacity. It recognises that airports across the UK play an important role in local economies, and in securing connectivity for local populations—as well as having an important role in helping to accommodate wider forecast growth in demand for aviation in the UK.

Road Traffic

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps he has taken to reduce congestion (a) in Windsor constituency and (b) around Heathrow Airport.

Robert Goodwill: Transport investment is central to the Government’s long term economic plan. On 7 July we announced £3 billion of funding for new local transport schemes within the Local Growth Fund. This included £96.9 million for the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (which includes Windsor). Of this, £94.6 million will support transport schemes that have been bid for by the LEP and will make a real difference to transport accessibility in the whole of the Thames Valley. These include provisional funding from 2016-17 onwards of £4.75 million for a sustainable transport package across the Thames Valley LEP area.
	Local transport in the Windsor and Maidenhead area has, since 2010, also benefited from investment that will reduce congestion in the area. This includes just over £2 million of Local Pinch Point Funding, £16.1 million investment in improving the state of the roads and on small scale transport schemes and around £2 million from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund to ease congestion by promoting travel behaviour change through a package of sustainable travel measures aimed at residents, schools and businesses.
	In addition to investment in the local network the Government continues to progress the M4 smart motorway. A further formal public consultation on the scheme will be held in the autumn and subject to development consent and the final business case, construction could start in late Summer 2016. As well as this the Highways Agency is taking forward a £2.5 million scheme to improve the links between the M4 and A329(M), to provide increased capacity at the junction and improve traffic flows. The scheme will be delivered by the end of March 2015.
	The Government is also investing around £500 million in Western Rail Access to Heathrow subject to a satisfactory business case and agreement of acceptable terms with the Heathrow aviation industry. This will facilitate direct rail services between destinations in the Thames Valley and Heathrow airport.

Roads: North West

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has allocated for road repairs in (a) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, (b) South Lakeland, (c) Cumbria and (d) the North West (i) since 2010 and (ii) between 2005 and 2010.

Robert Goodwill: The north-west includes two Highways Agency maintenance areas (10 and 13). It covers the operation of the motorway and trunk road network from the Scottish border in the north, to the Welsh border in the west and as far south as the midlands. The Highways Agency has spent the following amounts on road maintenance in the north-west since 2007-08. The Highways Agency only has financial data from 2007-08, as prior to that, the data is not split into specific areas.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2007-08 42 
			 2008-09 33 
			 2009-10 125 
			 2010-11 48 
			 2011-12 60 
			 2012-13 38 
			 2013-14 37 
		
	
	The Department for Transport provides capital funding to local highway authorities from the local highways maintenance capital block grant. Both the Westmoreland and Lonsdale constituency and South Lakeland fall within Cumbria county council’s area of responsibility and therefore we do not allocate any funds directly to them for road maintenance.
	
		
			 Cumbria allocations 
			 £ million 
			  Maintenance Block Capital Detrunking PRN bridge maintenance Exceptional maintenance 
			 2005-06 14.737 1.079 — — 
			 2006-07 15.486 1.892 — — 
			 2007-08 14.836 3.855 — — 
			 2008-09 18.901 0.900 — — 
		
	
	
		
			 2009-10 20.393 0.393 0.250 — 
			 2010-11 22.077 0.264 — 0.512 
			 2011-12 24.313 — — — 
			 2012-13 22.890 — — — 
			 2013-14 25.449 — — — 
			 2014-15 22.386 — — — 
		
	
	
		
			 North-west (including Cumbria) allocations 
			 £ million 
			  Maintenance Block Capital Detrunking PRN bridge maintenance Exceptional maintenance 
			 2005-06 88.144 10.043 — — 
			 2006-07 84.819 5.117 — — 
			 2007-08 96.658 10.038 — — 
			 2008-09 86.511 8.301 9.371 0.502 
			 2009-10 93.734 6.541 12.062 — 
			 2010-11 105.161 5.262 — 9.114 
			 2011-12 108.841 — — — 
			 2012-13 104.897 — — — 
			 2013-14 120.473 — — — 
			 2014-15 104.543 — — — 
		
	
	The Department has also provided additional funding to local highway authorities to help repair roads damaged due to severe weather events. These payments are as follows:
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Funding stream Cumbria North-west (including Cumbria) 
			 Payment for 2009 flood in 2010-11 15.000 15.000 
			 2010-11 pothole payment 2.305 10.108 
			 March 2011 pothole payment 6.230 23.832 
			 Payment for 2009 flood in 2011-12 4.851 4.851 
			 Payment for 2009 flood (1st for Barker Bridge) in 2011-12 8.151 8.151 
			 Final payment for 2009 flood (including Barker Bridge) in 2013-14 7.197 7.197 
			 March 2014 wet weather payment 3.018 13.179 
			 2014-15 pothole fund 4.851 20.681

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not hold data relating to political activity prior to appointment of its senior civil servants. However, all senior civil servants within our Department must adhere to section 14 of the civil service code relating to political impartiality which can be found at:
	http://resources.civilservice.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/civil-service-code-2010.pdf

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Stephen Hammond: The Department makes available to its staff any and all professional development courses from the training market which enable it to ensure that staff have the most relevant knowledge, skills and expertise to do their jobs effectively and so meet the Department's objectives.
	It is therefore not possible to provide a complete list of all professional development courses available to staff.
	The cost of training is closely monitored to ensure that expenditure is kept within budgetary provisions.
	The Department also complies with the appropriate procurement route in order to ensure that professional development training is fit for purpose and offers good value for money.

Tyres

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of part-worn tyres sold in the UK in each of the last five years.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport does not routinely collect information on the number of part-worn tyres sold in the UK.

EDUCATION

16-19 Bursary Fund

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people (a) applied and (b) were approved under the 16 to 19 bursary scheme for higher education in each year since 2011.

Matthew Hancock: The 16 to 19 bursary scheme provides extra financial help for students who need support in order to stay in further education.

Academies

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will publish any names his Department holds of (a) current and (b) former senior public employees and Ministers (i) promoting, (ii) taking up board positions on and (iii) involved in the running of academies and free schools; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to regularly publish any (a) private equity, (b) private school business and (c) other business connections and interests of (i) current and (ii) former (A) senior public sector employees, (B) Ministers and politicians and (C) board members of his Department (1) promoting, (2) taking up board positions on and (3) involved in the running of academies and free schools; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: Departmental policy is to maintain a Register of Interests for executive and non-executive board members. This information is available for inspection on request at any of the departmental offices, as stated in our annual report and accounts.
	Details of directorships and other significant interests held by Ministers are set out in the Register of Members’ Interests for MPs and the Register of Lords’ Interests. Both registers can be found on the UK Parliament website at:
	http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-interests/
	The Department also discloses Related Party transactions-summarised totals of transactions between the departmental group and entities in which departmental board members and Ministers hold a controlling position or significant business interest – in its Consolidated Annual Report and Accounts.
	The most recent disclosures are held within Note 26 of this report:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/275186/DFE_Group_Consolidated_12-13_ARA.pdf

Academies

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what requirement there is to consult where an existing single academy trust wishes to become a multi-academy trust; what steps are taken when those requirements to consult are not met; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has published non-statutory guidance for academies wanting to change from a single academy trust to a multi academy trust. The Education Funding Agency (EFA), on behalf of the Secretary of State, requires confirmation from the academy trust that a consultation has been held before a decision on making the change is granted. The guidance also refers to the EFA's need to be satisfied that the local authority has also been consulted. The EFA will consider any reasonable objections to the proposed change before making its decision.
	If the requirements to consult as set out in the guidance are not met, the EFA considers whether the academy trust should be asked to comply with the consultation requirements before a decision on the change could be made, or whether there is good reason not to do so.

Academies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications were received from academies to expand to meet parental demand as part of Round 1 of the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund 2014-15; and how many such applications were approved.

Edward Timpson: A full list of academies that were awarded an allocation through the latest round is published at:
	https://www.gov.uk/academies-capital-maintenance-fund

Air Travel

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what occasions each Minister within his Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education does not hold a list of domestic flights taken by each Minister on official business. A list could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Business: Education

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent steps he has taken to encourage businesses to engage with schools so that students develop a more practical understanding of business.

David Laws: The Department for Education wants to give employers a much greater role in inspiring and motivating young people about the world of work. We published statutory guidance in April to improve links between schools and employers so that pupils can receive careers advice from people with experience of business. More employers are getting involved by interacting with young people in the classroom and giving them an insight into the workplace. This can also include coaching, mentoring, work tasters and work experience. From October we are reshaping the role of the National Careers Service (NCS) to expand its offer to schools and colleges. It will be easier for employers and educators to participate in the NCS.
	We are taking steps to connect the education system to the world of work to ensure that young people have the skills, experience and qualifications that employers want. Last month we announced the introduction of Technical Awards for students aged between 14 and 16. These qualifications, which are equivalent to GCSEs, are developed in partnership with employers and will give students the opportunity to develop practical skills.
	The Department has introduced Tech Levels for students aged between 16 and 19 who want to learn technical skills as an alternative to, or alongside, A levels. The 227 Tech Levels taught from September 2014 are all endorsed by employers, trades or professional bodies and cover most practical careers. From September 2016, all Tech Level courses will also involve employers in the delivery or assessment of the qualification.

Care to Learn Scheme

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) men and (b) women received support from the Care to Learn scheme in each of the last two academic years; what the total cost of the Care to Learn scheme was in each such year; and what the projected cost of the scheme will be in 2014-15.

Elizabeth Truss: The number of (a) men and (b) women who received support from the Care to Learn scheme in the last two academic years; and the total costs of the scheme in those years are shown as follows:
	2012 to 2013 academic year
	Men: 47
	Women: 6,454
	Cost: £32.76 million.
	2013 to 2014 academic year1
	Men: 39
	Women: 5,389
	Cost: £ 23.69 million.
	The estimated cost for the scheme in the 2014 to 2015 academic year is £30.79 million.
	The scheme is demand-led. The fall in cost between 2012/13 and 2013/14 is due to falling demand caused by significant decline in the 16 to 19 cohort.
	1Take up figures and costs to the end of May 2014.

Children: Cerebral Palsy

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department provides for early years professionals on support for children with cerebral palsy; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Early Years Foundation Stage sets standards for learning, development and care. It is designed to be fully inclusive for all children and respond appropriately to the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which can include cerebral palsy.
	The Department for Education provides funding to Early Support and has provided guidance on practice for children with SEND for parents and others on cerebral palsy.
	This guidance, published in 2012, can be found online at:
	http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/923252/earlysupportcerebral_palsy_final.pdf
	The reforms in part 3 of Children and Families Act 2014 are designed to improve support for all children and young people with SEND. The 0-25 SEND Code of Practice which is currently being considered by Parliament has a specific section for early years providers which detail their statutory responsibilities and how they are expected to work together with partners in health and social care.

Classroom Assistants: Pay

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on a national pay grading structure for teaching assistants.

David Laws: The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), is not responsible for the pay and conditions of teaching assistants. These matters are determined by school employers.

Education: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much (a) revenue and (b) capital funding was provided to each pupil in state (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in (A) York local authority and (B) Yorkshire and the Humber in (1) cash terms and (2) at 2014 prices in 1995-96 and in each year since.

David Laws: As York only became a local authority in 1996-97 as a result of local government reorganisation, comparable funding data are only available from this date.
	Average per pupil revenue funding figures, from the Department for Education to local authorities, for pupils aged three to 10 (primary) and 11 to 15 (secondary) for York specifically, and the Yorkshire and Humber region on average, for years 1997-98 to 2005-06 are as follows. These figures are in cash terms:
	
		
			 Average Per Pupil Revenue Funding (cash) 
			  1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 
			 York LA (primary) 1,866 2,002 2,184 2,397 2,574 2,702 2,893 3,064 3,337 
			 York LA (secondary) 2,608 2,751 2,909 3,242 3,423 3,575 3,699 3,970 4,227 
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (primary) 1,943 2,086 2,288 2,539 2,766 2,931 3,220 3,400 3,689 
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (secondary) 2,724 2,859 3,047 3,376 3,629 3,806 4,004 4,280 4,563 
		
	
	These figures are in real terms using March 2014 GDP deflators in 2012-13 prices:
	
		
			 Average Per Pupil Revenue Funding (real) 
			  1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 
			 York LA (primary) 2,632 2,771 2,965 3,230 3,377 3,465 3,639 3,751 4,012 
			 York LA (secondary) 3,679 3,808 3,949 4,369 4,491 4,584 4,653 4,859 5,082 
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (primary) 2,741 2,887 3,106 3,422 3,630 3,758 4,050 4,161 4,435 
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (secondary) 3,842 3,957 4,136 4,549 4,762 4,880 5,036 5,239 5,486 
		
	
	Per pupil are figures using standard spending assessment (SSA)/education formula share (EFS) allocations and pupils aged three to 15.
	With the introduction of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) in 2006-07, the changes to the funding mechanism meant figures were no longer comparable with previous years.
	The 1997-98 to 2005-06 figures are based on EFS which formed the education part of the local government finance settlement, plus various grants. This was an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education rather than what they spent. The DSG is based largely on a local authority’s previous spending. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS. EFS comprised a schools block and a local education authority (LEA) block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the EFS school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG’s local government finance settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department’s time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department has isolated the EFS school block equivalent funding in 2005-06; as described above this does not represent the totality of ‘education’ funding in that year.
	Figures for financial years 2005 to 2013 are shown as follows. These are in cash terms:
	
		
			 Average revenue per pupil funding (cash) 
			  2005-06 (baseline) 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 York LA 3,680 3,860 4,120 4,340 4,530 4,740 4,660 4,660 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 3,890 4,120 4,410 4,610 4,810 5,050 4,960 4,960 
		
	
	These are in real terms using June 2014 GDP deflators in 2013-14 prices:
	
		
			 Average revenue per pupil funding (cash) 
			  2005-06 (baseline) 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 York LA 4,420 4,500 4,690 4,810 4,890 4,990 4790 4740 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 4,670 4,820 5,020 5,110 5,190 5,310 5100 5040 
		
	
	Per pupil figures are using DSG allocations plus other schools related grants, e.g. school standards grant, school standards grant (personalisation), standards fund etc. and pupils aged three to 15 rounded to the nearest £10. Most of the additional grants were mainstreamed into DSG in 2011-12.
	These figures do not include pupil premium funding given to schools.
	With the changes to DSG funding in financial year 2013 to 2014, i.e. funding allocated through three blocks, namely schools, early years and high needs, there is no longer a comparable overall figure with previous years. The following table shows the DSG schools block unit funding figures in cash and real terms for York LA.
	
		
			 DSG schools block per pupil funding 
			  2013-14 2014-15 
			 York LA (cash) 4,209 4,209 
			 York LA (real)1 4,209 4,118 
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (cash) 4,534 4,534 
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (real)1 4,534 4,436 
			 1 Real terms figures shown in 2013-14 prices using GDP deflators at 27 June 2014. 
		
	
	These figures do not include pupil premium funding given to schools.
	Since 2011-12 schools have received the Pupil Premium which targets funding at pupils from the most deprived backgrounds to help them achieve their full potential. In 2011-12, the Premium was allocated for each pupil known to be eligible for Free School Meals, looked after children and children of parents in the armed services. In 2012-13 coverage was expanded to include pupils known to have been eligible for Free School Meals at any point in the last six years. The amounts per pupil amounts for each type of pupil are shown in following table in cash terms:
	
		
			 Pupil Premium per pupil 
			 £ 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 Free School Meal Pupil Primary 488 623 953 1300 
			 Free School Meal Pupil Secondary 488 623 900 935 
			 Service Children 200 250 300 300 
			 Looked After Children 488 623 900 11,900 
			 1 Also includes children adopted from care. 
		
	
	Total Pupil Premium allocations for York local authority and the Yorkshire and Humberside region for each year are shown in the following table in cash terms:
	
		
			 Pupil Premium Allocations 
			 £ million 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 York 1.284 2.567 3.945 5.116 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 65.644 126.372 198.494 256.150 
		
	
	These figures are in real terms:
	
		
			 Pupil Premium Allocations 
			 £ million 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 York 1.320 2.611 3.945 5.006 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 67.497 128.551 198.494 250.636 
			 Price Base: Real terms at 2013-14 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 27 June 2014. 
		
	
	Capital funding:
	The following table shows capital funding for the financial years that are available. The data are in cash terms as allocations are phased across more than one year making real terms calculations meaningless. Complete information on the split of capital between phases of education is not held centrally.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Capital allocations1 PFI credits2 
			  York Yorkshire and the Humber York Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 1996-97 0.8 57.5 * * 
			 1997-98 1.3 52.1 * * 
			 1998-99 1.8 90.7 * 2.0 
			 1999-2000 4.5 151.3 * 62.8 
			 2000-01 7.4 243.3 * 86.0 
			 2001-02 4.8 245.2 * 45.2 
			 2002-03 9.2 310.5 * 1.1 
			 2003-04 11.1 305.4 * 188.9 
			 2004-05 11.4 322.9 15.4 273.2 
			 2005-06 10.7 381.1 * * 
			 2006-07 23 273.7 * 255.4 
			 2007-08 12.9 311 * 179.2 
			 2008-09 12.8 303 * 4.5 
			 2009-10 14.8 419.8 * 423.8 
			 2010-11 18.4 406.7 * 348.7 
			 2011-12 8 246.7 * * 
			 2012-13 8.7 186.1 * * 
			 2013-14 8.5 242.1 * * 
			 “*” = Indicates that no funding was given in that year. 1 Capital allocations includes capital grant and supported borrowing allocations. 2 PFI credit allocations are counted at financial close. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £100,000. 
		
	
	Yorkshire and the Humber also received £3.7 million in 2004-05, £5.2 million in 2005-06, £8.2 million in 2006-07, £69.3 million in 2007-08, £68.5 million in 2008-09, £90.7 million in 2009-10, £294.7 million in 2010-11, £190.9 million in 2011-12, £107.6 million in 2012-13 and £39.8 million in 2013-14 under the Building Schools for the Future Programme. Of this, York received £6.4 million in 2007-08, £13.9 million in 2008-09 and £8.3 million in 2009-10.
	In addition to this, there are 30 schools being built under this Government’s Priority Schools Building Programme in the Yorkshire and Humber region, attracting approximately £290 million investment over the life of the programme.

Faith Schools

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department has issued in relation to restrictions on types of food that may be served and consumed in publicly-funded faith schools.

David Laws: The school food standards regulations apply for all schools, regardless of their religious status. We recently published new school food standards that will come into effect in January 2015. Alongside the standards, we have written a short guidance document for school cooks and caterers. This is published online at:
	www.schoolfoodplan.com/standards

Family Courts

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has provided to the Family Drug and Alcohol Court to date; and what his future funding plans are for the Family Drug and Alcohol Court.

Edward Timpson: The Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) received cross-government funding from the Department for Education, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Justice over four years (2008-10) to support its early pilot development. The Department for Education's contribution to this contract was £450,000.
	The Department also gave additional funding (2010-12) of £150,000 each year to develop both a financial sustainability model for the future and a blueprint for the roll-out of other FDAC pilots in other areas.
	The Department is currently funding The Tavistock and Portman £150,000 in 2013-14 and 2014-15 to continue the development and roll-out of the FDAC model. This money will be to enable FDAC to be developed further to be consistent with the revised Public Law Outline (PLO) 26-week time limit which came into force through the Children and Families Act 2014.
	No decisions have been taken about future funding beyond 2015.

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Elizabeth Truss: Legal fees on cases relating to the release of information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 are not held centrally by the Department for Education and the cost of determining these over the past five years would exceed the disproportionate limit.

Languages: Education

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to increase the uptake of foreign languages in schools.

Elizabeth Truss: The new national curriculum in England introduces the teaching of a foreign language to key stage 2 (ages 7 to 11) from September 2014. This will increase the take-up of foreign languages in both primary and secondary schools. By starting languages earlier, pupils will have longer to develop their skills to a high level before continuing with language learning in secondary school.
	The English Baccalaureate is also already encouraging more young people to study a language at GCSE level. Take-up by key stage 4 pupils in England of a modern foreign language increased by over 20% between 2012 and 2013.
	To support the introduction of languages at key stage 2, the Department for Education has allocated £350,000 this year to fund training on the new national curriculum for teachers of modern foreign languages in primary and secondary schools. The Department has also allocated £1.9 million to teaching schools to lead curriculum change across and within their teaching school alliances.
	Approximately 46 of the projects being supported involve languages.

Pupils: Bullying

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to prevent bullying in infant and junior schools.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government has made preventing and tackling bullying in primary and secondary schools one of its top priorities by striking a balance between schools’ legal requirements, freedom and accountability.
	All schools must have a behaviour policy with measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils, including that which occurs online. Schools have the freedom to shape these measures in the context of their pupils’ needs. They are held to account by Ofsted for their effectiveness in preventing bullying, harassment and discrimination.
	Through the Education Act 2011, we strengthened teachers’ powers to discipline pupils for poor behaviour, including bullying. They can now issue same day detentions, confiscate banned items and search for, and if necessary delete, inappropriate images on mobile phones which might be linked to cyberbullying. This advice was updated in February 2014 to make clear that tough but proportionate sanctions can be deployed to deal with misbehaviour, which includes bullying. It is published online at:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-and-discipline-in-schools
	In 2011, the Government published streamlined advice for schools, reducing it from 481 pages to just 11 pages to make absolutely clear schools’ legal obligations to prevent and tackle bullying, and clarify teachers’ powers to discipline pupils for unacceptable behaviour. This advice is published online at:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying
	In February 2014, we issued an online leaflet about schools’ responsibilities to support children who are bullied. This contains advice that makes clear that schools should make appropriate provision for a bullied child’s social, emotional and mental health needs. This advice is also published online at:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying
	To further support schools, in February 2014, the Department produced case studies showing good practice in how schools manage behaviour and bullying. The case studies give real life examples of what schools do to identify and respond to bullying. This is published online at:
	www.gov.uk/government/collections/managing-behaviour-and-bullying-in-schools-case-studies
	From September 2014, pupils in all four key stages will be taught about e-safety as part of the new curriculum. For the first time, schools will be legally required to teach e-safety to pupils in infant and junior schools. This will empower all young people to tackle cyberbullying through responsible, respectful and secure use of technology.
	We are also providing £4 million of funding over two years from spring 2013 to four organisations: Beatbullying, the Diana Award, Kidscape and the National Children’s Bureau, to develop effective initiatives to prevent and tackle bullying.

School Meals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure that parents are made aware of the use of halal meat in school dinners where non-halal meat is not an option.

David Laws: The Government sets out the minimum standards for school food, which make sure children are served healthy, nutritious meals at school. Head teachers, governors and their caterers are best placed to make decisions about their school food policies, and how to communicate those to parents.

Schools: Defibrillators

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his Department's press release, Deal to provide life-saving defibrillators to schools, published in April 2014, what progress has been made on securing a supplier who will offer defibrillators to all schools at a reduced price in time for autumn term.

David Laws: Officials from the Department for Education are currently working in partnership with Department of Health colleagues and stakeholders to explore a range of options.

Schools: Drugs

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of teaching assistants that administer medicine to children in local authority schools in England.

David Laws: The Department for Education has made no such estimate.
	It is for schools to decide how they deploy their staff. We would expect that where schools in England employ support staff, many will have responsibilities to support pupils with medical conditions, including the administration of medicines.

Schools: Lead

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education in how many schools in England is lead paint present.

David Laws: The Department for Education does not hold data on the number of schools in England where lead paint is present.

Schools: Standards

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to reform school performance measures to include destination data and include the number of school students who enter employment or work-based training.

David Laws: The Department for Education aims is to publish both the key stage 4 (KS4) and key stage 5 (KS5) destination measures in performance tables once we are content that the data are robust enough. KS4 education destinations are already included in performance tables, and have been since 2013, but before we publish full destinations data we have to test and evaluate it fully to ensure reliability.
	We published the KS5 destination measure as experimental statistics in the 2014 destinations statistical first release1 because of the inclusion of new institutions, such as independent schools and special schools, for the first time. The employment, training and characteristics data need to be fully tested and evaluated before they can be published on the performance tables website. Tables, including employment data and breakdowns of the data based on student characteristics for former KS4 students, have also been published in the destination measures’ statistical first release (experimental statistics) alongside the KS5 data.
	1 Available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations

Schools: Transport

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when data on children's travel behaviour stopped being collected as part of the School Census.

Elizabeth Truss: Due to the unreliability of the data collected, the pupil's mode of travel was removed from the school census data collection from January 2012.

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Elizabeth Truss: No senior civil servants appointed to positions in the Department for Education since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within the Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Teachers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of qualified teachers who completed their studies in the last three years have a permanent teaching position.

David Laws: The information that the Department for Education holds will be published on 23 July as additional tables to the Statistical First Release “School Workforce in England, November 2013”. The information will be available in table C3. The Statistical First Release is published at the following web link:
	https://www.Gov.uk/government/publications/school-workforce-in-england-november-2013

Teachers: Industrial Disputes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that pupils prevented from attending school as a result of strike action are given an opportunity to catch up on school work missed owing to the absence of teaching staff.

Elizabeth Truss: It is disappointing that pupils will be prevented from attending school as a result of strike action by the National Union of Teachers (NUT). Industrial action damages education, causes unnecessary disruption and undermines the public respect which teachers deserve.
	If school work is missed owing to the absence of teaching staff, it will be the responsibility of the school to ensure that pupils are given an opportunity to catch up.

Training

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what professional development courses are made available to staff of his Department; and what the cost to the public purse is of each such course.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education's staff use the Civil Service Learning Portal to access development courses. The Portal currently offers 298 face-to-face courses, 217 e-learning programmes and 6,000 learning resources.
	E-learning courses and learning resources are free to access. Costs for face-to-face courses are dependent on where the course takes place and the number of delegates.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Disability Living Allowance: Children

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time between claim and a decision on disability living allowance for parents, guardians or representatives of disabled children under 16 years of age was in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: The data provided are the Actual Average Clearance Time (AACT) which is the average time taken between an application being made and the date the customer was notified of the decision on their claim. This is displayed in Working Days.
	Please see data in the following table.
	
		
			  Year end 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 DLA Normal Rules 30.3 25.1 21.3 22.4 
			 Note: For 2010-11 and 2011-12 data includes both child and adult cases as these were only separated during 2011-12. For all other years data are for child cases only. Source: Department for Work and Pensions RDA80123 legacy report—Management Information Statistics

Domestic Visits

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, column 721W, on official visits, what domestic visits each of the Ministers in his Department has made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what occasions each Minister within his Department has taken domestic flights on official business since May 2010.

Michael Penning: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Details of all ministerial overseas travel is published on a quarterly basis.

Employment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which claimants will be exempt from participating in the supervised jobsearch pilot scheme.

Esther McVey: Guidance for Jobcentre Plus staff will say that the following claimants will not be suitable for the supervised jobsearch pilots.
	Universal Credit claimants
	New style JSA claimants
	JSA Credits only claimants
	Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) claimants
	Postal claimants
	Claimants with Special Customer Records (these are held clerically so would present problems in contract management/ tracking for the purposes of the evaluation)
	Pregnant claimants, who have already produced a MATB1 to the Jobcentre (these will be within 11 weeks of their due date, so will not have time to complete the provision)
	Anyone currently not required to meet Actively Seeking Employment requirements
	Those attending Work Choice/ Residential Training Centres
	18 year olds Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs, eligible for Work Programme at 3 months, would need to be identified for Supervised Jobsearch at day one-work coaches would not have sufficient information)
	Ex-offenders (eligible for Work Programme from day one)
	Claimants who are participating in voluntary work and part-time workers (as there are resource implications too large for the pilot, given small number)
	Claimants for whom travelling to the Supervised Jobsearch provider premises would be outside their daily travel to work time (90 minutes each way unless restrictions have been agreed)

Employment Schemes: Young People

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of wage incentives claimed by employers who have recruited employees aged 16-24 through the Work Programme or Jobcentre Plus in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.

Esther McVey: Wage Incentives are available for 18 to 24-year-olds only. The latest available information for Youth Contract Wage Incentives was published in February 2014 and can be found at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/283873/youth-contract-feb14.pdf

Freedom of Information

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on legal fees in cases relating to the release of information requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: It has not been possible to verify and disaggregate the legal fee spend into each individual year. To do so would require an analysis of each individual file and electronic records and analysing the work undertaken during each year and the costs raised against this work. Verifying and disaggregating the data in this manner would take the costs of responding to the question over the disproportionate cost threshold.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of housing benefit have moved to smaller properties since the introduction of the under-occupancy penalty in (a) 2014 to date and (b) 2013.

Esther McVey: The information requested as to how many people have moved to smaller properties is not available.
	However this week the Department will be publishing a statistical analysis of changes in numbers subject to a reduction in housing benefit award as a result of the removal of the spare room subsidy.

ICT

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many mobile telephones, BlackBerrys and laptops were lost by his Department in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

Michael Penning: The information that is available is provided in the following table, which includes details of items that were reported as lost or stolen:
	
		
			  Mobile telephones Blackberry devices Laptop computers 
			 2013 17 12 25 
			 20141 5 13 16 
			 1 To 30 June 2014. 
		
	
	The Department takes its statutory responsibilities to protect data and assets extremely seriously; however the above figures need to be viewed in the context of the number of users given that as at 31 March 2014, the Department employed over 88,000 staff.
	The Department requires all portable devices to be encrypted, so as to protect the data contained on that media.
	Where items have been stolen, necessary investigations are conducted, involving the police as appropriate.

Independent Living Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2014, Official Report, column 640W, on Independent Living Fund, what plans he has to publish his Department’s assessment of the effect on former users of the closure of the Independent Living Fund.

Michael Penning: The equality analysis setting out the implications of closing the Independent Living Fund was published on 6 March 2014. It will be updated if new information on the effect on former users is available.

Independent Living Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2014, Official Report, column 640W, on Independent Living Fund, when he expects his Department’s plans for evaluating the effect on former users of the closure of the Independent Living Fund will be completed; and when those plans will be published.

Michael Penning: The timing of the evaluation will reflect the need to allow local authorities sufficient time to complete detailed assessments of former users’ support needs, following the closure of the Independent Living Fund.

Independent Living Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 2 July 2014, Official Report, column 640W, on independent living fund, what support his Department plans to provide users of the independent living fund affected by the closure of the fund.

Michael Penning: The Department continues to support the extensive work being undertaken by the independent living fund (ILF) to ensure an effective transfer for its users. This includes the code of practice agreed between the ILF and local authorities in England, backed by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Local Government Association (LGA).

Industrial Accidents

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) minor, (b) serious and (c) fatal accidents at work have been reported in each region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last five years.

Michael Penning: These statistics are published on the Health and Safety Executive website at:
	www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/regions/regtab.xls
	for the latest year, and
	www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/regions/reghist.xls
	for the previous five years.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the independent review of jobseeker's allowance sanctions being conducted by Matthew Oakley to be laid before Parliament.

Esther McVey: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for East Ham (Stephen Timms), 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 106W.

Morecambe

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how much money his Department has spent in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency since May 2010.

Michael Penning: The available information is shown in the following table.
	Further benefit expenditure data can be found at the following URL:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-expenditure-tables
	
		
			 Benefit expenditure in Morecambe and Lunesdale 
			 £ million (2014-15 prices) 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Excluding Housing Benefit 229.7 232.8 242.1 
			 Including Housing Benefit n/a 265.5 275.5 
			 Notes: 1. Benefit expenditure is available for financial years only. 2. The last period for which a full year of expenditure by parliamentary constituency is available is 2012-13. Figures for 2013-14 will be published later in the year. 3. For 2011-12 and 2012-13, figures include expenditure for the following benefits: attendance allowance, bereavement benefits, carer's allowance, disability living allowance, employment and support allowance, housing benefit, incapacity benefit, income support, jobseeker's allowance, pension credit, severe disablement allowance, state pension, winter fuel payments. This covers approximately 94% of all DWP benefit expenditure; information on the remaining benefits is not available at constituency level. 4. For 2010-11, housing benefit is only available by local authority so it is excluded; these figures therefore cover around 80% of all DWP benefit expenditure. 5. Figures at 2014-15 prices are deflated using GDP deflators published following the 2014 Budget, and published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/299805/GDP_Deflators_Qtrly_National_Accounts_March_2014_update.xls 6. Information on the cost of administering the benefits by parliamentary constituency is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Source: DWP Statistical and Accounting data

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2014, Official Report, column 126W, on personal independence payment, and with reference to the National Audit Office report, Personal Independence Payment: early progress, how his Department plans to recoup the £140 million shortfall in benefit savings estimated in that report while delivering the PIP reassessment programme within its original timescales and budget.

Michael Penning: We still plan to complete the process of having invited all eligible disability living allowance claimants to claim personal independence payment (PIP) by late 2017. Therefore, our overall assessment of the impacts of the introduction of PIP has not changed. We are still on course to make savings against earlier forecasts of £2.8 billion by 2017-18.

Personal Independence Payment

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2014, Official Report, column 110W, on personal independence payment, what the average clearance times were for claims from terminally ill people at (a) 31 January 2014 and (b) 30 June 2014.

Michael Penning: Statistics on clearance times are intended for future publication and the Department's analysts are currently considering what information will be included in the release.

Personal Independence Payment: Halton

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are currently waiting for an assessment for personal independence payment in the Halton local authority area; and what the average waiting time for an assessment is in that area.

Michael Penning: There are several reasons why a registered claim may not yet have a decision, for example the claimant has not yet returned their additional information form or is awaiting their assessment date, DWP have not yet made a decision on their claim, or the claimant has advised that they wish to withdraw their claim. At the end of March 2014, around 1,300 people in the Halton local authority had registered a new claim for PIP and around 400 decisions had been made.
	Statistics on clearance times are intended for future publication and the Department's analysts are currently considering what information will be included in the release.

Public Expenditure

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on (a) accommodation, (b) taxis or private cars and (c) alcoholic beverages in the last year.

Michael Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions incurred expenditure in the following categories in the financial year 2013-14:
	
		
			  £ 
			 (a) Accommodation/hotels 7,645,830 
			 (b) Taxis 1,312,894 
			 (c) Alcoholic beverages 1— 
			 1 Not available. The provision of alcoholic drinks at public expense may be provided only in exceptional circumstances with the express, prior, written permission of specific named senior civil servants. As the purchase of alcohol is exceptional, there is no separate finance code to identify this spend and therefore this information can be provided only at disproportionate costs to the Department.

Public Expenditure

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on (a) mobile telephones, (b) tablet computers and (c) office furniture in the last year.

Michael Penning: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has spent £121,699 on mobile phones during 2013-14.
	(b) DWP has spent £21,378 on tablet computers during 2013-14.
	(c) DWP occupies the majority of its estate under a private finance initiative (PFI) known as the PRIME Contract.
	Under this PFI, the Department leases back fully serviced accommodation from its private sector partner Telereal Trillium. The Department pays an inclusive unitary price for the space occupied, which includes the provision of office furniture.
	However, for those buildings and furniture requirements outside of the scope of the PFI contract, the Department's spend (in the financial year (2013-14) was £608,000.

Senior Civil Servants

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many senior civil servants appointed to positions in his Department since 2010 were previously (a) political appointees within that Department and (b) employed by a political party.

Michael Penning: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sick Leave: Stress

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the economy of days lost owing to stress in (a) manual and (b) non-manual jobs in each year since 2010.

Michael Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold information on the cost to the economy of days lost owing to stress.

Social Security Benefits

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff by grade and full-time equivalence are currently employed by his Department in dealing with policy on benefit sanctioning. [R]

Michael Penning: The information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Motor Neurone Disease

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will classify motor neurone disease as a terminal illness which qualifies for a fast-track assessment for welfare claims.

Michael Penning: Claims to attendance allowance, disability living allowance, employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit and personal independence payment from people who are terminally ill, as defined in law, are fast tracked. Claimants are considered to be terminally ill if they have a progressive disease as a result of which they are not expected to live longer than six months. Motor neurone disease is considered to be a progressive disease.

Suicide

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have disclosed an intention to commit suicide while (a) on the telephone to employees of his Department and (b) in person in his Department's premises or offices in each year since 2010.

Esther McVey: DWP does not collate information about the number of such incidents that may occur.
	DWP provides guidance to its staff handling vulnerable customers.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training employees of his Department receive about how to engage with people who (a) have mental health problems and (b) exhibit suicidal behaviour.

Esther McVey: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) trains staff in the skills required to support all customers and claimants.

Work Experience: Young People

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of 18 to 24 year olds who have started a work experience placement whilst claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) were not claiming JSA within six months of starting the placement.

Esther McVey: The Department’s early assessment of Work Experience’s impact tracked over 3,000 19 to 24-year-olds in terms of benefit receipt following a Work Experience placement between January and May 2011. After 21 weeks (5 months) 46% of these were not claiming an out of work benefit.
	The published research can be found at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222943/early_impacts_of_work_experience.pdf